purse seine

¹

noun

1. a large seine, for use generally by two boats, that is drawn around a school of fish and then closed at the bottom by means of a line passing through rings attached along the lower edge of the net.
2. a technique of fishing that utilizes a purse seine to capture large schools of fish, especially tuna.

purse-seine

²

[ purs-seyn ]

verb (used without object)

, purse-seined, purse-sein·ing.

1. to fish using a purse seine.

purse seine

noun

1. a large net towed, usually by two boats, that encloses a school of fish and is then closed at the bottom by means of a line resembling the string formerly used to draw shut the neck of a money pouch or purse

Other Words From

• purse seiner noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of purse seine¹

An Americanism dating back to 1865–70

Example Sentences

The gill-netters hung on the seiner's heels, because where the purse seine could get a haul so could they.

From Project Gutenberg

I've seen something like this once, when a purse-seine was hauled.

From Project Gutenberg

The light, once used for night purse seine fishing, was powered by a carbon arc.

From Project Gutenberg

But at last he grew accustomed to the tall immovable stakes in the channel which supported the purse-seine.

From Project Gutenberg