limpet

limpet
noun Etymology: Middle English lempet, from Old English lempedu, from Medieval Latin lampreda lamprey Date: before 12th century 1. a marine gastropod mollusk (especially families Acmaeidae and Patellidae) that has a low conical shell broadly open beneath, browses over rocks or timbers in the littoral area, and clings very tightly when disturbed 2. one that clings tenaciously to someone or something 3. an explosive device designed to cling magnetically to a metallic surface (as the hull of a ship)

New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.

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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

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