teredo

[ tuh-ree-doh ]

noun

, plural te·re·dos, te·re·di·nes [t, uh, -, reed, -n-eez].

1. a shipworm of the genus Teredo.

teredo

/ tɛˈriːdəʊ /

noun

1. any marine bivalve mollusc of the genus Teredo See shipworm

Word History and Origins

Origin of teredo¹

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin terēdō < Greek terēdṓn wood-boring worm

Word History and Origins

Origin of teredo¹

C17: via Latin from Greek terēdōn wood-boring worm; related to Greek tetrainein to pierce

Example Sentences

Did the deadly teredo bore the ship's timbers full of holes, until she went down with all on board?

From Project Gutenberg

A ship returning from the tropics brought with it, it is supposed, some tiny little shell-fish, the Teredo navalis.

From Project Gutenberg

A salt-water creature very destructive to shipping and the wharves is the teredo, or ship-worm.

From Project Gutenberg

Other ship worms belong to the genus Teredo, and are very similar in general characters.

From Project Gutenberg

They here remained until the 23rd, endeavouring to repair their vessels, which were fearfully pierced by the teredo.

From Project Gutenberg