Sprat (sprăt), n. [OE. sprot, sprotte, D. sprot; akin to G. sprotte.] (Zoöl.) (a) 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. (b) A California surf-fish (Rhacochilus toxotes); — called also alfione, and perch.
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. (b) The red-throated diver. See Diver. — Sprat mew(Zoöl.), the kittiwake gull.