# sprat

> English word · Noun · IPA /spɹæt/ · frequency rank #97,573

## Definitions
1. Any of various small, herring-like, marine fish in the genus Sprattus, in the family Clupeidae.
2. Any of various similar fish of other genera.
3. Anything petty or insignificant.
4. A sixpence.

## Etymology
From Middle English sprotte, from Old English sprot. Older source is unknown. Cognate with German Sprotte, Dutch sprot. Compare sprout.

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