a ray of shallow inshore waters which has spines on the back and tail, in particular:
a prickly-skinned European ray which is often eaten as ‘skate’ (Raja clavata, family Rajidae).a ray which lives in the warm waters of the Pacific (Platyrhinoidis triseriata, family Platyrhinidae).
thornback in other Oxford dictionaries
Definition of thornback in the US English dictionary
