thornback

American  

[thawrn-bak] / ˈθɔrnˌbæk /

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.

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thornback British  

/ 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

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Etymology

Origin of thornback

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

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

thornback

Ray, rā, n. a popular name for such flat, cartilaginous fishes as the skate, thornback, and torpedo.—n.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 3 of 4: N-R) by Various

I had marked, however, a dried thornback hanging among the rigging.

From The Cruise of the Betsey or, A Summer Ramble Among the Fossiliferous Deposits of the Hebrides. With Rambles of a Geologist or, Ten Thousand Miles Over the Fossiliferous Deposits of Scotland by Symonds, W. S. (William Samuel)

These include perch; bream; the john-dory; carp; barbel; salmon; pike; trout; sturgeon; the shark; thornback; lamprey; turbot; plaice; sole; flounder; cod; haddock; &c.

From How to See the British Museum in Four Visits by Jerrold, W. Blanchard

Cod, haddock, flounders, plaice, skate, thornback, mullets, pike, carp, eels, shellfish, except oysters; mackarel the first two months, but are not good in August.—Vegetables.

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 Eaton, Mary, fl. 1823-1849

FISH.—Barbel, brill, carp, cod, crabs, eels, dace, gudgeons, haddocks, herrings, lobsters, oysters, porch, pike, shrimps, skate, sprats, soles, tench, thornback, turbot, whiting.

From The Book of Household Management by Beeton, Mrs. (Isabella Mary)