English Explanatory Dictionary

lamprey

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. Any long slender primitive eel-like freshwater and saltwater fish of the order Petromyzontiformes, having a sucking mouth with rasping teeth but no jaw.

Pronunciation

/ˈlæm.pɹi/ /ˈlæm.pɹeɪ/ en-ca-lamprey.opus

Word forms

lamprey lampreys

Etymology

From Middle English laumprei, from Old French lampreie (modern French lamproie), from Medieval Latin lampreda, possibly alteration of Late Latin lampetra (“lamprey”), whose further origin is unknown, though it is traditionally thought to be a combination of lambō (“to lick, lap”) + petra (“stone, rock”). Doublet of limpet, which derives from Latin.

Derived words

Arctic lamprey brook lamprey European river lamprey lampricide Pacific lamprey pouched lamprey river lamprey sea lamprey southern lamprey southern topeyed lamprey
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