Sprat \Sprat\, n. [OE. sprot, sprotte, D. sprot; akin to G. sprotte.]

(Zo["o]l.)
   (a) A small European herring (Clupea sprattus) closely allied to the common herring and the pilchard; -- called also garvie. The name is also applied to small herring of different kinds.
   (b) A California surf-fish (Rhacochilus toxotes); -- called also alfione, and perch.

Sprat borer (Zo["o]l.), the red-throated diver; -- so called from its fondness for sprats. See Diver.

Sprat loon. (Zo["o]l.)
   (a) The young of the great northern diver. [Prov. Eng.]


   (b) The red-throated diver. See Diver.

Sprat mew (Zo["o]l.), the kittiwake gull.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)