limpet

limpet
/lim"pit/, n.
any of various marine gastropods with a low conical shell open beneath, often browsing on rocks at the shoreline and adhering when disturbed.
[bef. 1050; ME lempet, OE lempedu, nasalized var. of *lepedu < L lepada, acc. of lepas < Gk lepás limpet]

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Any of various species of snails that have a flattened shell.

Most marine species (subclass Prosobranchia) cling to rocks near shore. A common U.S. species is the Atlantic plate limpet (Acmaea testudinalis) of cold waters. Keyhole limpets have a slit or hole at the apex of the shell. Some limpets (subclass Pulmonata) live in brackish water and freshwater. See also mollusk.

European limpets (Patella vulgata) with acorn barnacles (Balanus balanoides)

Neville Fox-Davies
Bruce Coleman Inc./EB Inc.

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 any of various snails (class Gastropoda, phylum Mollusca) having a flattened shell. Most marine species cling to rocks near shore. A common American species is the Atlantic plate limpet (Acmaea testudinalis) of cold waters; the common species of Britain and northern Europe is Patella vulgata. Keyhole limpets, of the prosobranch family Fissurellidae, have a slit or hole at the apex of the shell, through which water currents (and wastes) exit.

      Limpets belonging to the subclass Pulmonata live in brackish and fresh water. For slipper limpet, see slipper shell.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Limpet — Lim pet (l[i^]m p[e^]t), n. [Prob. through French fr. L. lepas, adis, Gr. lepa s, a dos.] (Zo[ o]l.) 1. In a general sense, any hatshaped, or conical, gastropod shell. [1913 Webster] 2. Any one of many species of marine shellfish of the order… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • limpet — marine gastropod mollusk, early 14c., from O.E. lempedu, from M.L. lampreda limpet (see LAMPREY (Cf. lamprey)) …   Etymology dictionary

  • limpet — ► NOUN ▪ a marine mollusc with a shallow conical shell and a muscular foot for clinging tightly to rocks. ORIGIN Latin lampreda limpet, lamprey …   English terms dictionary

  • limpet — [lim′pit] n. [ME lempet < OE lempedu < ML lempreda, limpet, LAMPREY] a gastropod mollusk of various families, mostly marine, with a single, low, cone shaped shell and a thick, fleshy foot, by means of which it clings to rocks, timbers, etc …   English World dictionary

  • Limpet — For the underwater explosive device, see Limpet mine. Limpet is a common name for a number of different kinds of saltwater and freshwater snails (aquatic gastropod mollusks); it is applied to those snails that have a simple shell which is more or …   Wikipedia

  • limpet — n. 1 any of various marine gastropod molluscs, esp. the common limpet Patella vulgata, with a shallow conical shell and a broad muscular foot that sticks tightly to rocks. 2 a clinging person. Phrases and idioms: limpet mine a mine designed to be …   Useful english dictionary

  • limpet — UK [ˈlɪmpɪt] / US [ˈlɪmpət] noun [countable] Word forms limpet : singular limpet plural limpets 1) a small sea animal that has a shell and sticks tightly to rocks 2) someone who always wants to be with another person and refuses to leave them …   English dictionary

  • limpet — noun /ˈlɪmp.ɪt/ a) A small mollusc, of the family Patellidae with a conical shell found clinging to rocks in the intertidal zones of rocky shores. He stuck to me like a limpet all day! b) Someone dependant; someone disregarding or ignorant of… …   Wiktionary

  • limpet — noun Limpet is used before these nouns: ↑mine …   Collocations dictionary

  • limpet — lim|pet [ˈlımpıt] n [Date: 1000 1100; : Medieval Latin; Origin: lampreda limpet, lamprey ] a small sea animal with a shell, which holds tightly onto the rock where it lives …   Dictionary of contemporary English

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