catflap.org Online Dictionary Query

  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.] (Zo["o]l.)
     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 ({A.
        Canadensis, and A. 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" rel="nofollow">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]

  Mattowacca \Mat`to*wac"ca\, n. [Indian name.] (Zo["o]l.)
     An American clupeoid fish ({Clupea mediocris), similar to
     the shad in habits and appearance, but smaller and less
     esteemed for food; -- called also hickory shad, tailor
     shad, fall herring, and shad herring.
     [1913 Webster]

  Mattowacca \Mat`to*wac"ca\, n. [Indian name.] (Zo["o]l.)
     An American clupeoid fish ({Clupea mediocris), similar to
     the shad in habits and appearance, but smaller and less
     esteemed for food; -- called also hickory shad, tailor
     shad, fall herring, and shad herring.