lamprey

Meaning

Noun

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

Origin

• From Middle English laumprei, from Old French lampreie (modern lamproie), from Medieval Latin lampreda, possibly alteration of Late Latin lampetra, whose further origin is unknown, though it is traditionally thought to be a combination of lambō + petra. limpet, which derived from -.