Raia
/ˈreɪ.i.ə/noun
A taxonomic genus of skates and related batoid fishes, traditionally including the common or thornback skates.
Did you know?Raia is a scientific Latin form connected with the old European fish-name family that ultimately gave English “ray,” preserving a medieval name for these flat, winglike sea animals.
Etymological Timeline
Classical Antiquity
Latin
raia
“A ray or skate, a flat marine fish”
Medieval Latin
Latin
raia / raya
“A ray or skate; the spelling varied in medieval sources”
12th–13th Century
Old French
raie
“A ray or skate”
14th Century
Middle English
ray
“A ray or skate”
1758
Scientific Latin
Raia
“A zoological genus name established for skates”
Modern English
English
Raia
“A taxonomic genus of skates and related rays”