The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Shad \Shad\ (sh[a^]d), n. sing. & pl. [AS. sceadda a kind of
fish, akin to Prov. G. schade; cf. Ir. & Gael. sgadan a
herring, W. ysgadan herrings; all perhaps akin to E. skate a
fish.] (Zool.)
Any one of several species of food fishes of the Herring
family. The American species (Alosa sapidissima formerly
Clupea sapidissima), which is abundant on the Atlantic
coast and ascends the larger rivers in spring to spawn, is an
important market fish. The European allice shad, or alose
(Alosa alosa formerly Clupea alosa), and the twaite shad
(Alosa finta formerly Clupea finta), are less important
species. [Written also chad.]
[1913 Webster]
Note: The name is loosely applied, also, to several other
fishes, as the gizzard shad (see under Gizzard),
called also mud shad, white-eyed shad, and winter
shad.
[1913 Webster]
Hardboaded shad, or Yellow-tailed shad, the menhaden.
Hickory shad, or Tailor shad, the mattowacca.
Long-boned shad, one of several species of important food
fishes of the Bermudas and the West Indies, of the genus
Gerres.
Shad bush (Bot.), a name given to the North American shrubs
or small trees of the rosaceous genus Amelanchier
(Amelanchier Canadensis, and Amelanchier alnifolia).
Their white racemose blossoms open in April or May, when
the shad appear, and the edible berries (pomes) ripen in
June or July, whence they are called Juneberries. The
plant is also called service tree, and Juneberry.
Shad frog, an American spotted frog (Rana halecina); --
so called because it usually appears at the time when the
shad begin to run in the rivers.
Trout shad, the squeteague.
White shad, the common shad.
[1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Mattowacca \Mat`to*wac"ca\, n. [Indian name.] (Zool.)
An American clupeoid fish (Clupea mediocris), similar to
the shad in habits and appearance, but smaller and less
esteemed for food; -- called also hickory shad, tailor
shad, fall herring, and shad herring.
[1913 Webster]