Noun Acipenser Definition and Examples

1.

noun

A fish of the genus Acipenser or (more widely) the family Acipenseridae; a sturgeon. Also (in form Acipenser): the genus itself, to which most species of sturgeon belong.

((n.) A genus of ganoid fishes, including the sturgeons, having the body armed with bony scales, and the mouth on the under side of the head. See Sturgeon.)

Early 17th century; earliest use found in Richard Brathwait (?1588–1673), poet and writer. From classical Latin acipēnser name of a fish, probably the sturgeon, of uncertain origin, probably a compound, with a first element related to aciēs sharp edge, acus needle, perhaps on account of the sturgeon's long thin snout.