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

Saying this the reckless youth sallied forth with the spear or leister on his shoulder, and took the narrow bridle path leading up the glen.

From Erling the Bold by Ballantyne, R. M. (Robert Michael)

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

This throwing leister was a heavy spear, or rather a heavy "graip," having five single-barbed prongs of unequal length but regularly graduated.

From Stories of the Border Marches by Lang, Jeanie

Nevertheless, there was in that, too, a strong element of excitement, for the weapon used, the clodding or throwing leister, required no mean skill in the using.

From Stories of the Border Marches by Lang, Jeanie

The leister of which Master Pearson spoke is a three-pronged fork used for spearing fish.

From John Deane of Nottingham Historic Adventures by Land and Sea by Kingston, William Henry Giles