RAY (6)

Ray, n. [[F. raie, L. raia. Cf. Roach.]] (Zoöl.) (a) Any one of numerous elasmobranch fishes of the order Raiæ, 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 nàrinari) 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 Myliobatidæ, or Ætobatidæ. 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 Trygonidæ having one or more large, sharp, barbed dorsal spines on the whiplike tail. Called also stingaree.