weever

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: wee=ver

CIDE DICTIONARY

weever, n. [Probably from F. vive, OF. vivre, a kind of fish, L. vipera viper. Cf. Viper.].

 Any one of several species of edible marine fishes belonging to the genus Trachinus, of the family Trachinidæ. 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.  [1913 Webster]
" 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)."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

weever, n. any marine fish of the genus Trachinus, with sharp venomous dorsal spines.

Etymology

perh. f. OF wivre, guivre, serpent, dragon, f. L vipera VIPER