shipworm

[ ship-wurm ]

noun

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

shipworm

/ ˈʃɪpˌwɜːm /

noun

1. 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of shipworm¹

First recorded in 1770–80; ship ¹ + worm

Example Sentences

How then do shipworms do what they do?

From Science Daily

Dr. Distel’s main focus is shipworms, a group of clams that tunnel through waterlogged wood, and that may be a source for new antibiotics.

From New York Times

Wild shipworms are eaten in the Philippines -- either raw, or battered and fried like calamari.

From Science Daily

Matters reached crisis-point in the early 1980s, when it was discovered that the enormous wooden piles which hold up the entire structure were infested with teredo shipworm.

From BBC

The only part of the shipworm that extends beyond the wood are two siphons the animal uses to breathe and to expel waste.

From New York Times