thornback

[ thawrn-bak ]

noun

1. a skate, Raja clavata, of European waters, having short spines on the back and tail.
2. a California ray, Platyrhinoidis triseriatus, belonging to the guitarfish group.

thornback

/ ˈθɔːnˌbæk /

noun

1. a European ray, Raja clavata, having a row of spines along the back and tail
2. a similar fish, Platyrhinoidis triseriata, of the Pacific Ocean

Word History and Origins

Origin of thornback¹

Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; thorn, back ¹

Example Sentences

It is these purses, and those of the thornback and the edible skate, that we oftenest pick up on the English coast.

From Project Gutenberg

Still more comical and interesting is one of the spider-crabs, which may be called thornback.

From Project Gutenberg

It has a little body, but very long legs, so that a big male thornback might cover eighteen inches in the stretch of its legs.

From Project Gutenberg

The Thornback is another ugly fellow of this family, having spines on his back and a double row of them down his tail.

From Project Gutenberg

It is quite easy to understand why the name of thornback was given to him.

From Project Gutenberg