Definitions

1. noun

Small fish, especially a type of shad, that are rich in oil and are often caught for food.

“The river was filled with alewives during the annual migration.”

2. plural noun

A type of fish that is often used as bait.

“The fisherman used alewives as bait to catch the larger fish.”

3. noun

A unit of currency in medieval England, equal to one-third of a pound or 40 pence.

“The king’s taxes were paid in alewives.”