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.
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   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.
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   Skate's egg. See Sea purse.

   Skate sucker, any marine leech of the genus Pontobdella,
      parasitic on skates.
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Maid \Maid\, n. [Shortened from maiden. ?. See Maiden.]
   1. An unmarried woman; usually, a young unmarried woman;
      esp., a girl; a virgin; a maiden.
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            Would I had died a maid,
            And never seen thee, never borne thee son. --Shak.
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            Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her
            attire? Yet my people have forgotten me. --Jer. ii.
                                                  32.
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   2. A man who has not had sexual intercourse. [Obs.]
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            Christ was a maid and shapen as a man. --Chaucer.
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   3. A female servant.
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            Spinning amongst her maids.           --Shak.
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   Note: Maid is used either adjectively or in composition,
         signifying female, as in maid child, maidservant.
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   4. (Zool.) The female of a ray or skate, esp. of the gray
      skate (Raia batis), and of the thornback (Raia
      clavata). [Prov. Eng.]
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   Fair maid. (Zool.) See under Fair, a.

   Maid of honor, a female attendant of a queen or royal
      princess; -- usually of noble family, and having to
      perform only nominal or honorary duties.

   Old maid. See under Old.
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