a small anchovy, Cetengraulis mysticetus, of the American Pacific, used as bait by tuna fishermen
Word origin
C20: Spanish, diminutive of anchovaanchovy
anchoveta in American English
(ˌæntʃouˈvetə, -tʃə-)
noun
an anchovy, Cetengraulis mysticetus, found along the Pacific coast from British Columbia to Lower California, used for bait
Word origin
[1935–40; ‹ Sp, equiv. to anchov(a) anchovy + -eta ‹ L -itta dim. suffix]This word is first recorded in the period 1935–40. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: bingo, complementation, fluorocarbon, roadblock, roomette