lamprey

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a jawless, eel-shaped aquatic vertebrate with a round sucking mouth, many species of which attach to other fish

   A lamprey fastened its toothed oral disc to the side of the trout.

From Middle English laumprei and Old French lampreie, ultimately Medieval Latin lampreda. The deeper origin is uncertain; a traditional explanation connects Latin lambere, 'to lick,' with petra, 'rock,' referring to the animal's sucking mouth.

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