DCHP-3

gaspereau

[< Acadian F gasparot, gaspareau]
Esp. Maritimes
DCHP-1 (pre-1967)

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Various spellings

Entry from the DCHP-1 (pre-1967)

This entry may contain outdated or offensive information, terms, and examples.

n.

a bony species of herring, Alosa pseudoharengus, of the eastern seaboard and Great Lakes.

See: alewife

Quotations

1672
[Pour du Hareng, il n'en ont pas beaucoup, mais bien du Gasparot, qui est une espece qui n'est pas si bon a beaucoup pres.]
1703
Gasperots [are] a small fish like a Herring.
1912
The gaspereaux . . . is mostly used as a bait fish, but considerable quantities are salted for food.
1964
Your editorial . . . of May 22, "They're Running," concerning the migration of the "kayak or gaspereaux," attracted my attention.