noun
Japanese sardinella; Sardinella zunasi
A small marine fish found in Japanese coastal waters, often used in sushi and simmered dishes. The name is said to come from a story about borrowing rice (飯を借りる) because it is so delicious that one would even borrow rice to eat with it.
See also: 鯯 (さっぱ)
ままかりの酢漬けは岡山の郷土料理です。
Vinegared Japanese sardinella is a local dish of Okayama.
市場で新鮮なままかりを見つけた。
I found fresh Japanese sardinella at the market.
さっぱ is another name for the same fish, Sardinella zunasi, used in different regions or contexts.
The name ままかり is said to derive from 飯借り (meshi-kari), literally 'borrowing rice', from a folk tale that the fish is so tasty one would borrow rice from a neighbor to eat with it.