The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Asterias \As*te"ri*as\, n. [NL., fr. Gr. ? starred, fr. 'asth`r star.] (Zool.) A genus of echinoderms. [1913 Webster] Note: Formerly the group of this name included nearly all starfishes and ophiurans. Now it is restricted to a genus including the commonest shore starfishes. [1913 Webster]