Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Sting ray \Sting ray\ or Stingray \Sting"ray`\, n.
   Any one of numerous rays of the family {Dasyatid[ae]}, syn.
   {Trygonid[ae]}, having one or more large sharp barbed dorsal
   spines, on the whiplike tail, capable of inflicting severe
   wounds. Some species reach a large size, and some, esp., on
   the American Pacific coast, are very destructive to oysters.

Sting \Sting\, n. [AS. sting a sting. See {Sting}, v. t.]
   1. (Zo["o]l.) Any sharp organ of offense and defense,
      especially when connected with a poison gland, and adapted
      to inflict a wound by piercing; as the caudal sting of a
      scorpion. The sting of a bee or wasp is a modified
      ovipositor. The caudal sting, or spine, of a sting ray is
      a modified dorsal fin ray. The term is sometimes applied
      to the fang of a serpent. See Illust. of {Scorpion}.

   2. (Bot.) A sharp-pointed hollow hair seated on a gland which
      secrets an acrid fluid, as in nettles. The points of these
      hairs usually break off in the wound, and the acrid fluid
      is pressed into it.

   3. Anything that gives acute pain, bodily or mental; as, the
      stings of remorse; the stings of reproach.

            The sting of death is sin.            --1 Cor. xv.
                                                  56.

   4. The thrust of a sting into the flesh; the act of stinging;
      a wound inflicted by stinging. ``The lurking serpent's
      mortal sting.'' --Shak.

   5. A goad; incitement. --Shak.

   6. The point of an epigram or other sarcastic saying.

   {Sting moth} (Zo["o]l.), an Australian moth ({Doratifera
      vulnerans}) whose larva is armed, at each end of the body,
      with four tubercles bearing powerful stinging organs.

   {Sting ray}. (Zo["o]l.) See under 6th {Ray}.

   {Sting winkle} (Zo["o]l.), a spinose marine univalve shell of
      the genus Murex, as the European species ({Murex
      erinaceus}). See Illust. of {Murex}.

Ray \Ray\, n. [F. raie, L. raia. Cf. {Roach}.] (Zo["o]l.)
   (a) Any one of numerous elasmobranch fishes of the order
       Rai[ae], including the skates, torpedoes, sawfishes, etc.
   (b) In a restricted sense, any of the broad, flat,
       narrow-tailed species, as the skates and sting rays. See
       {Skate}.

   {Bishop ray}, a yellow-spotted, long-tailed eagle ray
      ({Stoasodon n[`a]rinari}) of the Southern United States
      and the West Indies.

   {Butterfly ray}, a short-tailed American sting ray
      ({Pteroplatea Maclura}), having very broad pectoral fins.
      

   {Devil ray}. See {Sea Devil}.

   {Eagle ray}, any large ray of the family {Myliobatid[ae]}, or
      {[AE]tobatid[ae]}. The common European species
      ({Myliobatis aquila}) is called also {whip ray}, and
      {miller}.

   {Electric ray}, or {Cramp ray}, a torpedo.

   {Starry ray}, a common European skate ({Raia radiata}).

   {Sting ray}, any one of numerous species of rays of the
      family {Trygonid[ae]} having one or more large, sharp,
      barbed dorsal spines on the whiplike tail. Called also
      {stingaree}.