sea star en · NOUN
Etymology
From sea + star. Compare West Frisian seestjer (“sea star”), Dutch zeester (“sea star”), German Seestern (“sea star”), Danish søstjerne (“sea star”), Swedish sjöstjärna (“sea star”), Icelandic sjóstjarna (“sea star”).
Meanings
- A starfish (class Asteroidea).
-
(obsolete) A star used for navigation or guidance at sea.
1658: By the same number doth nature divide the circle of the Sea-Starre — Sir Thomas Browne, The Garden of Cyrus (Folio Society 2007, p. 188)
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| sea-star | alternative | lexicographic | |
| sea stars | Number=Plur | lexicographic | |
| seastar | alternative | lexicographic |