The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Skate \Skate\, n. [Icel. skata; cf. Prov. G. schatten,
   meer-schatten, L. squatus, squatina, and E. shad.] (Zool.)
   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.
   [1913 Webster]

   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 (Raia laevis) is also a large
         species, often becoming three or four feet across. The
         common spiny skate (Raia erinacea) is much smaller.
         [1913 Webster]

   Skate's egg. See Sea purse.

   Skate sucker, any marine leech of the genus Pontobdella,
      parasitic on skates.
      [1913 Webster]