Sardine vs. Cod — What's the Difference?

"Sardine" and "pilchard" are common names that refer to various small, oily forage fish in the herring family Clupeidae. The term "sardine" was first used in English during the early 15th century and may come from the Mediterranean island of Sardinia, around which sardines were once abundant.The terms "sardine" and "pilchard” are not precise, and what is meant depends on the region.

Cod is the common name for the demersal fish genus Gadus, belonging to the family Gadidae. Cod is also used as part of the common name for a number of other fish species, and one species that belongs to genus Gadus is commonly not called cod (Alaska pollock, Gadus chalcogrammus).

Any of various edible fishes of the family Clupeidae that are frequently canned, especially small herrings of western Atlantic waters and Sardina pilchardus of European waters.

See Atlantic cod.

Any of various other small, silvery, edible freshwater or marine fishes.

Any of various marine fishes of the family Gadidae, which includes the Atlantic cod and the haddock.

To pack tightly; cram

(Archaic) A husk or pod.

Any one of several species of small herring which are commonly preserved in olive oil or in tins for food, especially the pilchard, or European sardine Sardina pilchardus (syn. Clupea pilchardus). The California sardine Sardinops sagax (syn. Clupea sagax) is similar. The American sardines of the Atlantic coast are mostly the young of the Atlantic herring and of the menhaden.

(Archaic) The scrotum.

(obsolete) carnelian

(Obsolete) A bag.

(figurative) Someone packed or crammed into a small space.

(obsolete) A small bag or pouch.

To fish for sardines

A husk or integument; a pod.

To pack or cram together tightly.

The cocoon of a silkworm.

Any one of several small species of herring which are commonly preserved in olive oil for food, especially the pilchard, or European sardine (Clupea pilchardus). The California sardine (Clupea sagax) is similar. The American sardines of the Atlantic coast are mostly the young of the common herring and of the menhaden.

The scrotum (also in plural).

See Sardius.

A pillow or cushion.

Small fatty fish usually canned

The Atlantic cod, Gadus morhua.

Any of various small edible herring or related food fishes frequently canned

The sea fish of the genus Gadus generally, as inclusive of the Pacific cod (Gadus macrocephalus) and Greenland cod (Gadus ogac or Gadus macrocephalus ogac).

A deep orange-red variety of chalcedony

The sea fish of the family Gadidae which are sold as "cod", as haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) and whiting (usually Merlangius merlangus).

Small fishes found in great schools along coasts of Europe; smaller and rounder than herring

Other unrelated fish which are similarly important to regional fisheries, as the hapuku and cultus cod.

Other unrelated fish which resemble the Atlantic cod, as the rock cod (Lotella rhacina) and blue cod (Parapercis colias).

A joke or an imitation.

A stupid or foolish person.

Having the character of imitation; jocular. (now usually attributive, forming mostly compound adjectives).

(Polari) Bad.

To attempt to deceive or confuse; To joke; To kid.

A husk; a pod; as, a peascod.

A small bag or pouch.

The scrotum.

A pillow or cushion.

An important edible fish (Gadus morrhua), taken in immense numbers on the northern coasts of Europe and America. It is especially abundant and large on the Grand Bank of Newfoundland. It is salted and dried in large quantities.

The vessel that contains the seeds of a plant (not the seeds themselves)

Lean white flesh of important North Atlantic food fish; usually baked or poached

Major food fish of arctic and cold-temperate waters

Fool or hoax;

Harass with persistent criticism or carping;

Payment due by the recipient on delivery;

Collecting the charges upon delivery;