noun
spat
Young oysters or similar shellfish.
Oyster spat attach themselves to clean shells in the bay.
Etymology
Spat is an established collective name for newly settled young shellfish. Its deeper derivation is uncertain.
More examples
- The farm buys spat to stock its oyster beds.
- Fine mesh keeps the tiny spat inside the nursery bags.
- Many spat fail to survive their first winter.
Forms
spat · spats