The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Sardine \Sar"dine\ (? or ?; 277), n. [F. sardine (cf. Sp.
   sardina, sarda, It. sardina, sardella), L. sardina, sarda;
   cf. Gr. ?, ?; so called from the island of Sardinia, Gr. ?.]
   (Zool.)
   Any one of several small species of herring which are
   commonly preserved in olive oil for food, especially the
   pilchard, or European sardine (Clupea pilchardus). The
   California sardine (Clupea sagax) is similar. The American
   sardines of the Atlantic coast are mostly the young of the
   common herring and of the menhaden.
   [1913 Webster]