thread herring

noun

1

: gizzard shad

2

: either of two herrings:

a

: a herring (Opisthonema oglinum) of the West Indies and east coast of the U.S. having the last ray of the dorsal fin long and slender

b

: a very similar fish (O. libertate) of the west coast of tropical America

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!