from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Shad \Shad\ (sh[a^]d), n. sing. & pl. [AS. sceadda a kind of
fish, akin to Prov. G. schade; cf. Ir. & Gael. sgadan a
herring, W. ysgadan herrings; all perhaps akin to E. skate a
fish.] (Zool.)
Any one of several species of food fishes of the Herring
family. The American species ({Alosa sapidissima} formerly
{Clupea sapidissima}), which is abundant on the Atlantic
coast and ascends the larger rivers in spring to spawn, is an
important market fish. The European allice shad, or alose
({Alosa alosa} formerly {Clupea alosa}), and the twaite shad
({Alosa finta} formerly {Clupea finta}), are less important
species. [Written also {chad}.]
[1913 Webster]
Note: The name is loosely applied, also, to several other
fishes, as the gizzard shad (see under {Gizzard}),
called also {mud shad}, {white-eyed shad}, and {winter
shad}.
[1913 Webster]
{Hardboaded shad}, or {Yellow-tailed shad}, the menhaden.
{Hickory shad}, or {Tailor shad}, the {mattowacca}.
{Long-boned shad}, one of several species of important food
fishes of the Bermudas and the West Indies, of the genus
{Gerres}.
{Shad bush} (Bot.), a name given to the North American shrubs
or small trees of the rosaceous genus {Amelanchier}
({Amelanchier Canadensis}, and {Amelanchier alnifolia}).
Their white racemose blossoms open in April or May, when
the shad appear, and the edible berries (pomes) ripen in
June or July, whence they are called {Juneberries}. The
plant is also called {service tree}, and {Juneberry}.
{Shad frog}, an American spotted frog ({Rana halecina}); --
so called because it usually appears at the time when the
shad begin to run in the rivers.
{Trout shad}, the squeteague.
{White shad}, the common shad.
[1913 Webster]