sea purse

noun

1. the horny egg case of certain rays and sharks.

sea purse

noun

1. Also called: mermaid's purse. a tough horny envelope containing fertilized eggs, produced by the female of certain sharks and skates

Word History and Origins

Origin of sea purse¹

First recorded in 1800–10

Example Sentences

Several of the bladder-wracks or "sea-grapes" will dry nicely, as also will the egg cases of the whelk and the "sea purses" and "skate barrows," really the egg bags of the dogfish and skate.

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