weever

[wee-ver]

noun

1. either of two small, European, marine fishes of the genus Trachinus, T. draco greater weever or T. vipera lesser weever, having highly poisonous dorsal spines.

2. any fish of the same family, Trachinidae.

weever

/ ˈwiːvə /

noun

1. any small marine percoid fish of the family Trachinidae, such as Trachinus vipera of European waters, having venomous spines around the gills and the dorsal fin

Word History and Origins

Origin of weever¹

1615–25; perhaps continuing Middle English *wever, Old English wifer arrow (cognate with Old Norse vifr sword); modern meaning by association with obsolete wiver viper; wyvern

Word History and Origins

Origin of weever¹

C17: from Old Northern French wivre viper, ultimately from Latin vīpera _viper

Example Sentences

Beachgoers in East Yorkshire are being warned to wear shoes for paddling in the sea after a number of people were stung by weever fish.

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There have been other cases of injury by weever fish along Yorkshire's coast.

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Weever fish are so well camouflaged that many people do not see them until they have stepped on the dangerous marine species.

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"Weever fish are common to our coastal areas, but the recent hot weather means there are more of the fish than normal," she said.

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The weever fish was sighted recently at the south end of Ayr beach.

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