limpet

American  

[lim-pit] / ˈlɪm pɪt /

noun

1. any of various marine gastropods with a low conical shell open beneath, often browsing on rocks at the shoreline and adhering when disturbed.

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limpet British  

/ ˈlɪmpɪt /

noun

1. any of numerous marine gastropods, such as Patella vulgata ( common limpet ) and Fissurella (or Diodora ) apertura ( keyhole limpet ), that have a conical shell and are found clinging to rocks

2. any of various similar freshwater gastropods, such as Ancylus fluviatilis ( river limpet )

3. (modifier) relating to or denoting certain weapons that are attached to their targets by magnetic or adhesive properties and resist removal

   limpet mines

4. a small open caisson shaped to fit against a dock wall, used mainly in repair work

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Etymology

Origin of limpet

before 1050; Middle English lempet, Old English lempedu, nasalized variant of *lepedu < Latin lepada, accusative of lepas < Greek lepás limpet

Example Sentences

And our heels had worn small round bowls into it large enough to hold puddles of mussels before St. Patrick’s Day, and limpets after that.

From Literature

She picked a lettuce and a tomato for a salad and dug up a sweet potato to bake in a celebration bonfire, with fresh limpets from the rocks and coconut for dessert.

From Literature

In rockpools, starfish, limpets and other wildlife were smothered - while Pembrokeshire's fishing industry was brought to a standstill for more than 18 months.

From BBC

Norris clung to Verstappen like a limpet and then overtook him with imperious ease before the first pit stops, cruising off into the middle distance thereafter.

From BBC

Lima opted to use a limpet shell instead, creating what he called “robolimpets.”

From Science Magazine

Related Words

• abalone
• clam
• snail