大约在1600年，这个词在康沃尔地区被用来指一种鱼，通常被称为horse mackerel，在英国沿海地区非常丰富。这个名字的来源尚不明确，可能是shad的变体。《牛津英语词典》将其与威尔士语的ysgaden（意为“鲱鱼”）、挪威方言的skad以及瑞典语的skädde（意为“比目鱼”）进行比较。
In July, 1834, as Mr. Yarrell informs us, most extraordinary shoals passed up the channel along the coast of Glamorganshire; their passage occupied a week, and they were evidently in pursuit of the fry of the herring. The water appeared one dark mass of fish, and they were caught by cart-loads, and might even be baled out of the water by the hands alone. ["British Fish and Fisheries," 1849]
1834年7月，Yarrell先生告诉我们，令人难以置信的大群鱼群沿着格拉摩根郡的海岸向上游动。这一过程持续了整整一周，显然它们是在追逐鲱鱼的幼鱼。水面看起来像是一片黑色的鱼群，人们甚至可以用手直接将鱼从水中捞起，成捆成捆地捕获它们。[《英国鱼类与渔业》，1849年]
