shipworm

[ ship-wurm ]
/ ˈʃɪpˌwɜrm /

noun

any of various wormlike marine bivalve mollusks that burrow into the timbers of ship, wharves, etc.

Origin of shipworm

First recorded in 1770–80; ship1 + worm

Words nearby shipworm

shippon, ships that pass in the night, shipshape, shipside, shipway, shipworm, shipwreck, shipwright, shipyard, shiralee, shiraz

Example sentences from the Web for shipworm

  • The teredo or shipworm was a serious peril in the days before the sheathing of ships.

    Days of the Discoverers |L. Lamprey

British Dictionary definitions for shipworm

shipworm
/ (ˈʃɪpˌwɜːm) /

noun

any wormlike marine bivalve mollusc of the genus Teredo and related genera and family Teredinidae. They bore into wooden piers, ships, etc, by means of drill-like shell valves See also piddock