lamprey

[ lam-pree ]
/ ˈlæm pri /

noun, plural lam·preys.

any eellike marine or freshwater fish of the order Petromyzoniformes, having a circular, suctorial mouth with horny teeth for boring into the flesh of other fishes to feed on their blood.
Also called lamprey eel, lamper eel.

Origin of lamprey

1250–1300; Middle English lampreye < Anglo-French *lampreie (Old French lamproie) < Late Latin lamprēda; replacing Old English lamprede < Medieval Latin lampreda

Words nearby lamprey

lampion, lamplight, lamplighter, lampoon, lamppost, lamprey, lamprophony, lamprophyre, lampshade, lampworking, lampyrid

Example sentences from the Web for lamprey

British Dictionary definitions for lamprey

lamprey
/ (ˈlæmprɪ) /

noun

any eel-like cyclostome vertebrate of the family Petromyzonidae, having a round sucking mouth for clinging to and feeding on the blood of other animals Also called: lamper eel See also sea lamprey

Word Origin for lamprey

C13: from Old French lamproie, from Late Latin lamprēda; origin obscure