Pl. spari. [L., ad. Gr. σπάρος. For Anglicized forms see SPAR sb.8 and SPARE sb.3] A sea-bream or gilt-head.
Formerly also applied to many different fishes in some way resembling these.
1668. Wilkins, Real Char., II. v. § 5. 138. Gilt-Head, Sea-bream. Sparus.
1752. J. Hill, Hist. Anim., 252. The silvery-eyed, red Sparus. Ibid., 253. The reddish Sparus,… the Sea-bream.
1753. Chambers’ Cycl., Suppl., s.v., Or the spari some have acute and cylindric teeth.
1777. G. Forster, Voy. round World, II. 171. They also brought … a fine well-tasted sparus ready dressed in leaves.
1803. Shaw, Gen. Zool., IV. II. 403. Silvery-blueish Sparus, with gold-coloured brows. Ibid., 407. Yellowish Sparus.
1836. Yarrell, Brit. Fishes, I. 111. The four-toothed Sparus, dentex vulgaris.
