lamprey

[ lam-pree ]

noun,plural lam·preys.
  1. any eellike marine or freshwater fish of the order Petromyzoniformes, having a circular, suctorial mouth with horny teeth for boring into the flesh of other fishes to feed on their blood.

Origin of lamprey

1
1250–1300; Middle English lampreye<Anglo-French *lampreie (Old French lamproie) <Late Latin lamprēda; replacing Old English lamprede<Medieval Latin lampreda

Words Nearby lamprey

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How to use lamprey in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for lamprey

lamprey

/ (ˈlæmprɪ) /


noun
  1. any eel-like cyclostome vertebrate of the family Petromyzonidae, having a round sucking mouth for clinging to and feeding on the blood of other animals: Also called: lamper eel See also sea lamprey

Origin of lamprey

1
C13: from Old French lamproie, from Late Latin lamprēda; origin obscure

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