herring
nounUK /ˈhɛrɪŋ/
US /ˈhɛrɪŋ/
A herring is a small silver fish that lives in the sea and that people often eat.
We had smoked herring for breakfast.
OTHER MEANINGS
2. A red herring is a clue or fact that is meant to distract people from the real answer.
The detective said the muddy footprints were a red herring.
3. Herring can refer to the flesh of this fish used as food, often pickled, salted, or smoked.
The market sells pickled herring in jars.
4. In a figurative sense, a herring is something used to draw attention away from the main issue.
His joke about the weather was just a herring to avoid the question.