Skate (?), n. [D. schaats. Cf. Scatches.] A metallic runner with a
frame shaped to fit the sole of a shoe, -- made to be fastened under
the foot, and used for moving rapidly on ice.
Batavia rushes forth; and as they sweep, On sounding skates, a
thousand different ways, In circling poise, swift as the winds,
along, The then gay land is maddened all to joy.
Thomson.
Roller skate. See under Roller.
Skate, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Skated; p. pr. & vb. n. Skating.] To move on
skates.
Skate, n. [Icel. skata; cf. Prov. G. schatten, meer-schatten, L.
squatus, squatina, and E. shad.] (Zoöl.) 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.
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. lævis) 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.
Skat"er (?), n. 1. One who skates.
2. (Zoöl.) Any one of numerous species of hemipterous insects belonging
to Gerris, Pyrrhocoris, Prostemma, and allied genera. They have long
legs, and run rapidly over the surface of the water, as if skating.
Ska"tol (?), n. [Gr. &?;&?;&?;, dung + -ol.] (Physiol. Chem.) A
constituent of human fæces formed in the small intestines as a product
of the putrefaction of albuminous matter. It is also found in reduced
indigo. Chemically it is methyl indol, C9H9N.