- limpet
- \ \ see LAMPREY
Word origins - 2ed. J. Ayto. 2005.
limpet
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Limpet — Lim pet (l[i^]m p[e^]t), n. [Prob. through French fr. L. lepas, adis, Gr. lepa s, a dos.] (Zo[ o]l.) 1. In a general sense, any hatshaped, or conical, gastropod shell. [1913 Webster] 2. Any one of many species of marine shellfish of the order… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
limpet — marine gastropod mollusk, early 14c., from O.E. lempedu, from M.L. lampreda limpet (see LAMPREY (Cf. lamprey)) … Etymology dictionary
limpet — ► NOUN ▪ a marine mollusc with a shallow conical shell and a muscular foot for clinging tightly to rocks. ORIGIN Latin lampreda limpet, lamprey … English terms dictionary
limpet — [lim′pit] n. [ME lempet < OE lempedu < ML lempreda, limpet, LAMPREY] a gastropod mollusk of various families, mostly marine, with a single, low, cone shaped shell and a thick, fleshy foot, by means of which it clings to rocks, timbers, etc … English World dictionary
Limpet — For the underwater explosive device, see Limpet mine. Limpet is a common name for a number of different kinds of saltwater and freshwater snails (aquatic gastropod mollusks); it is applied to those snails that have a simple shell which is more or … Wikipedia
limpet — /lim pit/, n. any of various marine gastropods with a low conical shell open beneath, often browsing on rocks at the shoreline and adhering when disturbed. [bef. 1050; ME lempet, OE lempedu, nasalized var. of *lepedu < L lepada, acc. of lepas … Universalium
limpet — n. 1 any of various marine gastropod molluscs, esp. the common limpet Patella vulgata, with a shallow conical shell and a broad muscular foot that sticks tightly to rocks. 2 a clinging person. Phrases and idioms: limpet mine a mine designed to be … Useful english dictionary
limpet — UK [ˈlɪmpɪt] / US [ˈlɪmpət] noun [countable] Word forms limpet : singular limpet plural limpets 1) a small sea animal that has a shell and sticks tightly to rocks 2) someone who always wants to be with another person and refuses to leave them … English dictionary
limpet — noun /ˈlɪmp.ɪt/ a) A small mollusc, of the family Patellidae with a conical shell found clinging to rocks in the intertidal zones of rocky shores. He stuck to me like a limpet all day! b) Someone dependant; someone disregarding or ignorant of… … Wiktionary
limpet — noun Limpet is used before these nouns: ↑mine … Collocations dictionary
limpet — lim|pet [ˈlımpıt] n [Date: 1000 1100; : Medieval Latin; Origin: lampreda limpet, lamprey ] a small sea animal with a shell, which holds tightly onto the rock where it lives … Dictionary of contemporary English
