matjes herring

Meaning

Noun

• Young filleted herring that has been matured for a short time in brine and prepared traditionally with vinegar, sugar, salt, and spices.

Origin

• From Dutch maatjesharing, from maatjes + haring, from earlier forms maetgens-, maeghdekins-, medykens-, from maagd + -kin, so called because matjes herring is made of young herring that has never spawned.