'Raia laevis' definitions:

Definition of 'Raia laevis'

From: GCIDE
  • Skate \Skate\, n. [Icel. skata; cf. Prov. G. schatten, meer-schatten, L. squatus, squatina, and E. shad.] (Zool.) Any one of numerous species of large, flat elasmobranch fishes of the genus Raia, having a long, slender tail, terminated by a small caudal fin. The pectoral fins, which are large and broad and united to the sides of the body and head, give a somewhat rhombic form to these fishes. The skin is more or less spinose. [1913 Webster]
  • Note: Some of the species are used for food, as the European blue or gray skate (Raia batis), which sometimes weighs nearly 200 pounds. The American smooth, or barn-door, skate (Raia laevis) is also a large species, often becoming three or four feet across. The common spiny skate (Raia erinacea) is much smaller. [1913 Webster]
  • Skate's egg. See Sea purse.
  • Skate sucker, any marine leech of the genus Pontobdella, parasitic on skates. [1913 Webster]