Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Skate \Skate\, n. [Icel. skata; cf. Prov. G. schatten,
   meer-schatten, L. squatus, squatina, and E. shad.] (Zo["o]l.)
   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.

   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 ({R. l[ae]vis}) is also a large
         species, often becoming three or four feet across. The
         common spiny skate ({R. erinacea}) is much smaller.

   {Skate's egg}. See {Sea purse}.

   {Skate sucker}, any marine leech of the genus {Pontobdella},
      parasitic on skates.