lamprey

[ lam-pree ]

noun

, plural lam·preys.

1. 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.

lamprey

/ ˈlæmprɪ /

noun

1. 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 calledlamper eel See also sea lamprey

Word History and Origins

Origin of lamprey¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of lamprey¹

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

Example Sentences

The Environment Agency found that 2,100 fish died, including eels and lampreys both endangered and protected species.

From BBC

Biologists expect that with the dams now removed and the Klamath flowing freely, all types of native fish will benefit, including fall-run and spring-run chinook as well as coho salmon, steelhead trout and Pacific lampreys.

From Los Angeles Times

Surprisingly, it doesn't use these teeth to suck blood like most lamprey species -- it's non-parasitic.

From Science Daily

Taking down the dams will give the Klamath’s fish — including salmon, steelhead and lampreys — the opportunity to reconnect with their ancestral habitats.

From Los Angeles Times

Then they did similar analyses on juvenile sharks and lampreys.

From Science Magazine