from
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.
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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.
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{Skate's egg}. See {Sea purse}.
{Skate sucker}, any marine leech of the genus {Pontobdella},
parasitic on skates.
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from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Maid \Maid\, n. [Shortened from maiden. ?. See {Maiden}.]
1. An unmarried woman; usually, a young unmarried woman;
esp., a girl; a virgin; a maiden.
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Would I had died a maid,
And never seen thee, never borne thee son. --Shak.
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Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her
attire? Yet my people have forgotten me. --Jer. ii.
32.
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2. A man who has not had sexual intercourse. [Obs.]
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Christ was a maid and shapen as a man. --Chaucer.
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3. A female servant.
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Spinning amongst her maids. --Shak.
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Note: Maid is used either adjectively or in composition,
signifying female, as in maid child, maidservant.
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4. (Zool.) The female of a ray or skate, esp. of the gray
skate ({Raia batis}), and of the thornback ({Raia
clavata}). [Prov. Eng.]
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{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}.
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