Find the word definition

The Collaborative International Dictionary
Raia batis

Skate \Skate\, n. [Icel. skata; cf. Prov. G. schatten, meer-schatten, L. squatus, squatina, and E. shad.] (Zo["o]l.) Any one of numerous species of large, flat elasmobranch fishes of the genus Raia, having a long, slender tail, terminated by a small caudal fin. The pectoral fins, which are large and broad and united to the sides of the body and head, give a somewhat rhombic form to these fishes. The skin is more or less spinose.

Note: Some of the species are used for food, as the European blue or gray skate ( Raia batis), which sometimes weighs nearly 200 pounds. The American smooth, or barn-door, skate ( R. l[ae]vis) is also a large species, often becoming three or four feet across. The common spiny skate ( R. erinacea) is much smaller.

Skate's egg. See Sea purse.

Skate sucker, any marine leech of the genus Pontobdella, parasitic on skates.

Raia batis

Maid \Maid\, n. [Shortened from maiden. ?. See Maiden.]

  1. An unmarried woman; usually, a young unmarried woman; esp., a girl; a virgin; a maiden.

    Would I had died a maid, And never seen thee, never borne thee son.
    --Shak.

    Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? Yet my people have forgotten me.
    --Jer. ii. 3

  2. 2. A man who has not had sexual intercourse. [Obs.]

    Christ was a maid and shapen as a man.
    --Chaucer.

  3. A female servant.

    Spinning amongst her maids.
    --Shak.

    Note: Maid is used either adjectively or in composition, signifying female, as in maid child, maidservant.

  4. (Zo["o]l.) The female of a ray or skate, esp. of the gray skate ( Raia batis), and of the thornback ( Raia clavata). [Prov. Eng.]

    Fair maid. (Zo["o]l.) See under Fair, a.

    Maid of honor, a female attendant of a queen or royal princess; -- usually of noble family, and having to perform only nominal or honorary duties.

    Old maid. See under Old.