weever

Webster's Dictionary (1913)

Origin: Probably from F. vive, OF. vivre, a kind of fish, L. vipera viper. Cf. Viper.

Zoology Any one of several species of edible marine fishes belonging to the genus Trachinus, of the family Trachinidae. They have a broad spinose head, with the eyes looking upward. The long dorsal fin is supported by numerous strong, sharp spines which cause painful wounds.

☞ The two British species are the great, or greater, weever (Trachinus draco), which becomes a foot long (called also gowdie, sea cat, stingbull, and weaverfish), and the lesser weever (Trachinus vipera), about half as large (called also otter pike, and stingfish).

Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54