# matjes herring

> English word · Noun

## Definitions
1. Young filleted herring that has been matured for a short time in brine and prepared traditionally with vinegar, sugar, salt, and spices.

## Etymology
From Dutch maatjesharing (“matjes herring”), from maatjes (“young, small”) + haring (“herring”), from earlier forms maetgens-, maeghdekins-, medykens- (“maiden-like”), from maagd (“maiden”) + -kin (“-kin”), so called because matjes herring is made of young herring that has never spawned.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/matjes-herring