weever

[ wee-ver ]

noun

1. either of two small, European, marine fishes of the genus Trachinus, T. draco greater weever or T. vipera lesser weever, having highly poisonous dorsal spines.
2. any fish of the same family, Trachinidae.

weever

/ ˈwiːvə /

noun

1. any small marine percoid fish of the family Trachinidae, such as Trachinus vipera of European waters, having venomous spines around the gills and the dorsal fin

Word History and Origins

Origin of weever¹

1615–25; perhaps continuing Middle English *wever, Old English wifer arrow (cognate with Old Norse vifr sword); modern meaning by association with obsolete wiver viper; wyvern

Word History and Origins

Origin of weever¹

C17: from Old Northern French wivre viper, ultimately from Latin vīpera viper