noun, plural (especially collectively) scad, (especially referring to two or more kinds or species) scads.
- any carangid fish of the genus Decapterus, inhabiting tropical and subtropical shore waters.
- any of several related carangid fishes, as of the genera Trachurus or Selar.
noun Usually scads.
- Informal. a great number or quantity: scads of money.
- Archaic. a piece of money; dollar.
noun plural scad or scads
- any of various carangid fishes of the genus Trachurus, esp the horse mackerel
n.c.1600, Cornish name for a type of fish (also known as horse mackerel) abundant on the British coast; of uncertain origin, perhaps a variant of shad. OED compares Welsh ysgaden “herrings,” Norwegian dialectal skad, Swedish skädde “flounder.”