Sprat vs. Smelt — What's the Difference?

Sprat is the common name applied to a group of forage fish belonging to the genus Sprattus in the family Clupeidae. The term also is applied to a number of other small sprat-like forage fish (Clupeoides, Clupeonella, Corica, Ehirava, Hyperlophus, Microthrissa, Nannothrissa, Platanichthys, Ramnogaster, Rhinosardinia, and Stolothrissa).

To melt or fuse (ores) in order to separate the metallic constituents.

Any of various small marine food fishes of the genus Sprattus, especially S. sprattus of the northeast Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean and Baltic Seas, eaten fresh or smoked and often canned as a sardine. Also called brisling.

To melt or fuse. Used of ores.

Any of various other fishes of the family Clupeidae, such as a young herring.

A past tense and a past participle of smell.

Any of various small, herring-like, marine fish in the genus Sprattus, in the family Clupeidae.

Any of various small silvery marine, freshwater, and anadromous food fishes of the family Osmeridae, found in cold waters of the Northern Hemisphere, especially Osmerus mordax of North America and O. eperlanus of Europe.

Any of various similar fish of other genera.

Any small anadromous fish of the family Osmeridae, found in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and in lakes in North America and northern part of Europe.

(by extension) Anything petty or insignificant.

(obsolete) A fool; a simpleton.

A sixpence.

Production of metal, especially iron, from ore in a process that involves melting and chemical reduction of metal compounds into purified metal.

A small European herring (Clupea sprattus) closely allied to the common herring and the pilchard; - called also garvie. The name is also applied to small herring of different kinds.

Any of the various liquids or semi-molten solids produced and used during the course of such production.

Small fatty European fish; usually smoked or canned like sardines

Simple past tense and past participle of smell

Small herring processed like a sardine

To fuse or melt two things into one, especially in order to extract metal from ore; to meld.

Any one of numerous species of small silvery salmonoid fishes of the genus Osmerus and allied genera, which ascend rivers to spawn, and sometimes become landlocked in lakes. They are esteemed as food, and have a peculiar odor and taste.

A gull; a simpleton.

To melt or fuse, as, ore, for the purpose of separating and refining the metal; hence, to reduce; to refine; to flux or scorify; as, to smelt tin.

Small cold-water silvery fish; migrate between salt and fresh water

Small trout-like silvery marine or freshwater food fishes of cold northern waters

Extract (metals) by heating