noun
barnacle
BAR-nuh-kul/ˈbɑːrnəkl/
A marine crustacean fixed firmly to an underwater surface.
A barnacle clings to the rock beneath the shallow water.
Etymology
Bernak first named a goose; the word’s deeper origin is unknown. Its later use for the crustacean is connected with the belief that these geese developed from barnacle shells.
In context
The parasite is essentially mimicking a clutch of eggs. And those roots aren’t just going to the crab’s guts for food, but also to its nervous system, where the barnacle uses a variety of chemical signals
More examples
- The ship’s hull was covered with barnacles.
- She inspected a cluster of barnacles on the pier.
- He called the outdated rule a barnacle on the system.
Forms
barnacle · barnacles