n. a young pilchard or similar young or small herring-like marine fish.
Phrases and idioms:
like sardines crowded close together (as sardines are in tins).
Etymology: ME f. OF sardine = It. sardina f. L f. sarda f. Gk, perh. f. Sardo Sardinia
2.
n. a precious stone mentioned in Rev. 4:3.
Etymology: ME f. LL sardinus f. Gk sardinos var. of sardios SARD
Useful english dictionary. 2012.