byssus

American  

[bis-uhs] / ˈbɪs əs /

noun

plural

byssuses, byssi

1. Zoology. a collection of silky filaments by which certain mollusks attach themselves to rocks.

2. an ancient cloth, thought to be of linen, cotton, or silk.

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byssus British  

/ ˈbɪsəs /

noun

1. a mass of strong threads secreted by a sea mussel or similar mollusc that attaches the animal to a hard fixed surface

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Other Word Forms

• byssaceous adjective
• byssal adjective
• byssoid adjective

Etymology

Origin of byssus

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin < Greek býssos a fine cotton or linen < Semitic; compare Hebrew būts

Example Sentences

The fiber comes from byssus threads produced by Pinna nobilis, a large Mediterranean clam that uses these threads to attach itself to rocks.

From Science Daily

Using a fibrous anchor called a byssus, Dreissenid mussels contribute to biofouling on surfaces and obstruct intake structures in power stations and water treatment plants.

From Science Daily

Looking to nature for inspiration, the McGill-led research zeroed in on the marine mussel byssus, a fibrous holdfast, which these bivalve mollusks use to anchor themselves in seashore habitats.

From Science Daily

Then comes the slightly tedious task, which is pulling off the byssus, or beard, a small length of what looks like black threads twisted together.

From Washington Post

The British admiral Horatio Nelson wrote of his intention to send his lover, Emma Hamilton, a pair of gloves made from byssus.

From The Guardian