spiering, noun

Forms:
Also speering.
Origin:
South African Dutch, DutchShow more South African Dutch, transferred use of Dutch spiering a name used to designate a different species of fish; see Thompson quotation 1913.
obs.
The silverside, Atherina breviceps of the Atherinidae, a small, translucent estuarine and marine fish; assous. Also attributive.
Note:
Often used as bait. In Smith and Heemstra’s Smiths’ Sea Fishes (1986), the name ‘Cape silverside’ is used for this species.
1804 R. Percival Acct of Cape of G.H. 44The speering eel, a small fish, with white clear shining spots.
1806 J. Barrow Trav. II. 38The Speering, a species of Antherina, is a small transparent fish with a broad band.
1843 J.C. Chase Cape of G.H. 169Speering, an Antherina. Similar to Smelt but not very plentiful.
1913 W.W. Thompson Sea Fisheries of Cape Col. 58 (Swart)Elft and spiering..are very similar in appearance to their Dutch counterparts, although not scientifically related to them.
1913 C. Pettman Africanderisms 466Spiering,..a fish not unlike the English smelt.
The silverside, Atherina breviceps of the Atherinidae, a small, translucent estuarine and marine fish; assous. Also attributive.
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obsolete or obsolescent
spider, nounn.spitskool, nounn.
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