mermaid's purse

noun

1. the horny or leathery egg case of certain cartilaginous fishes, as skates.

mermaid's purse

noun

1. another name for sea purse

Word History and Origins

Origin of mermaid's purse¹

First recorded in 1830–40

Example Sentences

From other buckets he pulls specimens of black coral and a deep sea skate's egg case, a large version of what we landlubbers sometimes refer to as a mermaid's purse.

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The ray was trapped in its egg case - known as a mermaid's purse - and would otherwise have died at Macduff Marine Aquarium in Aberdeenshire.

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The ray was trapped in its egg case - known as a mermaid's purse - and would have died.

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The egg cases were about the size of iPhones and the color of banana peels, with tails at the corners that give them their common name — “mermaid’s purse.”

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"I haven't a penny with me, I'm afraid," answered Isobel, rummaging in her pockets, and turning out several interesting pebbles, a few shells, a mermaid's purse, and the remains of a spider crab.

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