Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Lamprey
Lam′prey
(lăm′pry̆)
, Noun.
pl.
Lampreys
(lăm′prĭz)
. [OE.
lampreie
, F. lamproie
, LL. lampreda
, lampetra
, from L. lambere
to lick + petra
rock, stone. The lampreys are so called because they attach themselves with their circular mouths to rocks and stones, whence they are also called rocksuckers
. See Lap
to drink, Petrify
.] (Zool.)
An eel-like marsipobranch of the genus
Petromyzon
, and allied genera; called also lamprey eel
and lamper eel
. The lampreys have a round, sucking mouth, without jaws, but set with numerous minute teeth, and one to three larger teeth on the palate (see Illust. of Cyclostomi
). There are seven small branchial openings on each side. [Written also
lamprel
, and lampron
.] ☞ The common or sea lamprey of America and Europe (
Petromyzon marinus
), which in spring ascends rivers to spawn, is considered excellent food by many, and is sold as a market fish in some localities. The smaller river lampreys mostly belong to the genus Ammocœles
, or Lampetra
, as Ammocœles fluviatilis
, of Europe, and Ammocœles æpypterus
of America. All lampreys attach themselves to other fishes, as parasites, by means of the suckerlike mouth. Webster 1828 Edition
Lamprey
LAM'PREY
,Noun.
A genus of anguilliform fishes, resembling the eel, and moving in water by winding, like the serpent on land. This fish has seven spiracles on each side of the neck, and a fistula or aperture on the top of the head, but no pectoral or ventral fins. The marine or sea lamprey is sometimes found so large as to weigh four or five pounds.
Lamprel and lampron. [See lamprey.]
Definition 2024
lamprey
lamprey
English
A lamprey
Noun
lamprey (plural lampreys)
- Any long slender primitive eel-like freshwater and saltwater fish of the Petromyzontidae family, having a sucking mouth with rasping teeth but no jaw.
Derived terms
Translations
a fish
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References
- lamprey in Oxford English Dictionary, volume VI, 1908
- lamprey in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913