: one (C. harengus) that is abundant in the temperate and colder parts of the North Atlantic and that in the adult state is preserved by smoking or salting and in the young state is extensively canned and sold as sardines
b
: one (C. pallasi synonym C. h. pallasi) of the North Pacific harvested especially for its roe
2
: any of a large family (Clupeidae) of soft-finned bony fishes (such as the herrings, shads, sardines, and menhadens) that have a laterally compressed body and a forked tail and usually occur in schools
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the WebEelgrass meadows protect the coast, store carbon, and support a host of organisms, from economically important herring, sea bass, and lobsters to vulnerable species such as sea turtles and dugongs. Rebecca Dzombak, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Aug. 2022 Not to be missed: smoked salmon and herring, both a tradition in Québec and a point of pride for the region.Outside Online, 25 July 2022 Its annual herring run, once among the largest in New England, collapsed. David Abel, BostonGlobe.com, 27 July 2022 But its extensive menu offers much more, including seafood chowder, Digby scallops, calamari, fish cakes, pickled herring and pan-seared haddock. Walter Nicklin, Washington Post, 13 Aug. 2022 For example, 19% of European herring are exported yearly to the Ukrainian market, while fish feed is widely arriving from this country. Daniela De Lorenzo, Forbes, 7 July 2022 The company, which produces 12- and 24-ounce jars of marinated herring, will keep its headquarters in Milwaukee County. Tom Daykin, Journal Sentinel, 6 July 2022 Togiak fish can weigh from 14 ounces to nearly one pound, compared to 4 to 5 ounces for other herring. Laine Welch | Fish Factor, Anchorage Daily News, 28 Mar. 2022 The company, which produces 12- and 24-ounce jars of marinated herring, will keep its headquarters in Milwaukee County. Tom Daykin, Journal Sentinel, 6 July 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
Middle English hering, from Old English hǣring; akin to Old High German hārinc herring
First Known Use
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of herring was before the 12th century