noun

herring

HEH-rihng

noun

A small, oily silver fish found in large schools in northern seas, widely eaten fresh, smoked, or pickled.

"Pickled herring is a traditional dish in Scandinavia."

"Fishermen hauled in a huge catch of herring before dawn."

How to Use Herring

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA small oily fish common in cold northern waters, often eaten pickled or smoked.

Common mistake

Don't confuse with the idiom "red herring," meaning a misleading clue — that's a figurative use, not a literal fish.

Common pairings

pickled herring a school of herring smoked herring

herrings plural, herring plural

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Pickled _____ is a traditional dish in Scandinavia.

From Old English hǣring, a Germanic word of uncertain origin, possibly linked to "hair" because of the fish's fine bones.

referring conferring transferring