a tough horny envelope containing fertilized eggs, produced by the female of certain sharks and skates
Also called: mermaid's purse
mermaid's purse in American English
noun
the horny or leathery egg case of certain cartilaginous fishes, as skates
Word origin
[1830–40]This word is first recorded in the period 1830–40. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: format, grid, isomerism, showcase, walkover