leister

American  

[lee-ster] / ˈli stər /

noun

1. a spearlike implement having three or more prongs, for use in spearing fish.

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verb (used with object)

1. to spear (fish) with a leister.

leister British  

/ ˈliːstə /

noun

1. a spear with three or more prongs for spearing fish, esp salmon

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verb

1. (tr) to spear (a fish) with a leister

Etymology

Origin of leister

1525–35; < Old Norse ljōstr salmon-spear, akin to ljōsta to strike

Example Sentences

It does not fall to the lot of all men to handle with equal dexterity the brush, the pen, and the rod—to say nothing of the rifle—still less of the leister, under cloud of night.

From Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine — Volume 54, No. 333, July 1843 by Various

The leister used in "sunning" or in "burning the water" differed somewhat in shape from the weapon with which Tam Purdie secured his big kipper.

From Stories of the Border Marches by Lang, Jeanie

Vb. leister in Sco., to strike fish with a spear or leister.

From Scandinavian influence on Southern Lowland Scotch by Flom, George Tobias

With this little leister the men cast up fish on the ice with incredible dexterity.

From The Voyage of the Vega round Asia and Europe, Volume I and Volume II by Leslie, Alexander, fl. 1879-1882

I there wi’ something did forgather, That put me in an eerie swither; An awfu’ scythe, out-owre ae shouther, Clear-dangling, hang; A three-taed leister on the ither Lay, large an’ lang.

From The Complete Works of Robert Burns: Containing his Poems, Songs, and Correspondence. With a New Life of the Poet, and Notices, Critical and Biographical by Allan Cunningham by Burns, Robert