from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Sardine \Sar"dine\ (? or ?; 277), n. [F. sardine (cf. Sp.
sardina, sarda, It. sardina, sardella), L. sardina, sarda;
cf. Gr. ?, ?; so called from the island of Sardinia, Gr. ?.]
(Zool.)
Any one of several small species of herring which are
commonly preserved in olive oil for food, especially the
pilchard, or European sardine ({Clupea pilchardus}). The
California sardine ({Clupea sagax}) is similar. The American
sardines of the Atlantic coast are mostly the young of the
common herring and of the menhaden.
[1913 Webster]