raia batis

Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

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]

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

1.An unmarried woman; usually, a young unmarried woman; esp., a girl; a virgin; a maiden. [1913 Webster]

Would I had died a maid, And never seen thee, never borne thee son.— Shak.[1913 Webster]

Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? Yet my people have forgotten me.— Jer. ii. 32.[1913 Webster]

2.A man who has not had sexual intercourse. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

Christ was a maid and shapen as a man.— Chaucer.[1913 Webster]

3.A female servant. [1913 Webster]

Spinning amongst her maids.— Shak.[1913 Webster]

Note: Maid is used either adjectively or in composition, signifying female, as in maid child, maidservant. [1913 Webster]

4.(Zool.) The female of a ray or skate, esp. of the gray skate (Raia batis), and of the thornback (Raia clavata). [Prov. Eng.] [1913 Webster]

Fair maid. (Zool.) 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. [1913 Webster]