/sterr"jeuhn/ , n. , pl. ( esp. collectively ) sturgeon , ( esp. referring to two or more kinds or species ) sturgeons .
any of various large fishes of the family Acipenseridae, inhabiting fresh and salt North Temperate waters, valued for their flesh and as a source of caviar and isinglass: A. brevirostrum, of the Atlantic coast, is endangered.
[ 1250-1300; ME esturgeon styria, OHG sturio (G Stör ), ON styrja ]