small fishes found in great schools along coasts of Europe; smaller and rounder than herring
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Pilchard \Pil"chard\, n. [Cf. It. pilseir, W. pilcod minnows.] (Zo["o]l.) A small European food fish ({Clupea pilchardus}) resembling the herring, but thicker and rounder. It is sometimes taken in great numbers on the coast of England.
Fools are as like husbands as pilchards are to herrings. --Shak.