thornback
Americannoun
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a skate, Raja clavata, of European waters, having short spines on the back and tail.
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a California ray, Platyrhinoidis triseriatus, belonging to the guitarfish group.
noun
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a European ray, Raja clavata, having a row of spines along the back and tail
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a similar fish, Platyrhinoidis triseriata, of the Pacific Ocean
Etymology
Origin of thornback
Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; see origin at thorn, back 1
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Salmon, turbot, mackerel, skate, thornback, red and grey mullet, gurnets, pipers, soles, lobsters, oysters, prawns, crawfish, smelts, carp, perch, pike, gudgeons, eels, and plaice.
From The Lady's Own Cookery Book, and New Dinner-Table Directory; In Which will Be Found a Large Collection of Original Receipts. 3rd ed. by Lady Charlotte Campbell Bury
FISH.—Barbel, brill, carp, cod, crabs, crayfish, dace, eels, flounders, haddocks, herrings, lampreys, lobsters, mussels, oysters, perch, pike, plaice, prawns, shrimps, skate, smelts, soles, sprats, sturgeon, tench, thornback, turbot, whitings.
From The Book of Household Management by Mrs. (Isabella Mary) Beeton
This is the best sauce for skate, maid, or thornback.
From The Cook and Housekeeper's Complete and Universal Dictionary; Including a System of Modern Cookery, in all Its Various Branches, Adapted to the Use of Private Families by Mary Eaton
She foundered at sea, whether going or returning is not said; in consequence, we are told, of injuries received from the stroke of a whale, of the thornback species.
From The Life of Francis Marion by William Gilmore Simms
Those which I remember to have seen there of the kinds that are not eaten are the whale, porpoise, shark, dogfish, gar, stingray, thornback, sawfish, toadfish, frogfish, land crabs, fiddlers, and periwinkle.
From The Bounty of the Chesapeake Fishing in Colonial Virginia by James Wharton
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