sprat, n. [OE. sprot, sprotte, D. sprot; akin to G. sprotte.].
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. [
1913 Webster]
Sprat borer (Zoöl.), the red-throated diver; -- so called from its fondness for sprats. See Diver. -- Sprat loon. (Zoöl.) (a) The young of the great northern diver. [Prov. Eng.] (b) The red-throated diver. See Diver. -- Sprat mew (Zoöl.), the kittiwake gull.