whitebait

noun

white·​bait ˈ(h)wīt-ˌbāt 

1

: the young of any of several European herrings and especially of the common herring (Clupea harengus) or of the sprat (Sprattus sprattus)

2

: any of various small fishes likened to the European whitebait and used as food

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1