limpet

[lim-pit]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR limpet ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

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

Origin of limpet

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for limpet

mine, clam, abalone, snail, whelk, chiton, cuttlefish

Examples from the Web for limpet

Historical Examples of limpet

"Our good old Church is like a limpet on the shore," he said.
The Woman Thou Gavest Me
Hall Caine
John swore and struggled, but the old man stuck like a limpet.
Robert Elsmere
Mrs. Humphry Ward
Nevertheless, he clung to his seat like a limpet, and pulled at his oar with all his might.
The Thorogood Family
R.M. Ballantyne
Mr. Limpet looked at Mr. Grigg to see if any emotion was advisable.
Rogues and Vagabonds
George R. Sims
What was Grigg and Limpet's clerk doing there at that time of night?
Rogues and Vagabonds
George R. Sims

British Dictionary definitions for limpet

limpet

noun

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

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

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

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

Word Origin for limpet

Old English lempedu, from Latin lepas, from Greek

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for limpet

marine gastropod mollusk, early 14c., from Old English lempedu, from Medieval Latin lampreda "limpet" (see lamprey).