noun
- A small saltwater fish of the herring family, often canned and eaten as food.
Usage: Common in European waters, especially around the British Isles.; Often sold canned in oil or tomato sauce.
Examples
- The fisherman's catch included dozens of pilchards destined for the cannery.
- Pilchards are a staple protein source in many Mediterranean diets.
- She opened a tin of pilchards for lunch.
- The pilchard industry has been important to Cornwall's economy for centuries.
- Pilchards are smaller and oilier than many other fish species.