Definition of "whitebait" []

• The young of various fishes, especially the herring, considered a delicacy when fried. (noun)
• Any of various similar or related small edible fishes. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "Scientists from the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (Niwa) and the Mahurangi Technical Institute (MTI) have been catching and tagging farmed rare giant kokopu, which in their infancy make up part of the group known as whitebait, to reintroduce the species to Auckland waterways."
• "The whitebait is a young fish, but much smaller than Meditteranean Whitebait, without bones and a milder taste."
• "For good reason – they serve a reliably good range of tapas including pescadito frito (whitebait) gambas rebozadas (prawns in a light batter), mussels, sausages and the whole kaboodle."