1. A local name of the young of the Herring and Sprat (Clupea harengus, and sprattus); also the spawn of these.
1602. Carew, Cornwall, 32 a. The Pilcherd … were wont to pursue the Brit, vpon which they feede, into the hauens.
1851. H. Melville, Whale, II. xlviii. 131. We fell in with vast meadows of brit, the minute, yellow substance, upon which the Right Whale largely feeds.
1880–4. F. Day, Fishes Gt. Brit., II. 232. Britt along the Devonshire coast, consists either of young sprats or young herrings. Ibid., 233. The Town Council of Exeter annually make an official whitebait repast upon ‘britt.’ [The author discusses at length the identity of the ‘britt,’ and shows that the name includes both species, which are at some seasons taken together, at others separately.]
2. transf. The fry of other fish, as the mackerel.
1886. R. C. Leslie, Sea-painter’s Log, viii. 161. The mackerel brit, or small fry.
