barnacle

barnacle
barnacle early 13c., "species of wild goose;" as a type of "shellfish," first recorded 1580s. Often derived from a Celtic source (Cf. Bret. bernik, a kind of shellfish), but the application to the goose predates that of the shellfish in English. The goose nests in the Arctic in summer and returns to Europe in the winter, hence the mystery surrounding its reproduction. It was believed in ancient superstition to hatch from barnacle's shell, possibly because the crustacean's feathery stalks resemble goose down. The scientific name of the crustacean, Cirripedes, is from Gk. cirri "curls of hair" + pedes "feet."

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • Barnacle — Bar na*cle, n. [Prob. from E. barnacle a kind of goose, which was popularly supposed to grow from this shellfish; but perh. from LL. bernacula for pernacula, dim. of perna ham, sea mussel; cf. Gr. pe rna ham. Cf. F. bernacle, barnacle, E.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Barnacle — ist die englische Bezeichnung für Rankenfußkrebse (Cirripedia) Barnacle Goose, die englische Bezeichnung der Weißwangengans (Branta leucopsis) eine Alienspezies aus Half Life ein Charakter aus dem X Men Universum Barnacle ist der Familienname… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • barnacle — [bär′nə kəl] n. [ME bernacle, earlier bernak < MIr bairnech & Bret bernik, kind of shellfish: ult. via Gaul * berna, split < IE base * bher , to slit] 1. BARNACLE GOOSE 2. any member of various orders of saltwater cirriped crustaceans that… …   English World dictionary

  • Barnacle — Bar na*cle, n. [See {Bernicle}.] A bernicle goose. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Barnacle — Bar na*cle, n. [OE. bernak, bernacle; cf. OF. bernac, and Prov. F. (Berri) berniques, spectacles.] 1. pl. (Far.) An instrument for pinching a horse s nose, and thus restraining him. Note: [Formerly used in the sing.] [1913 Webster] The barnacles …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • barnacle — index parasite Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • barnacle — s. m. 1.  [Ornitologia] Ave aquática de arribação. 2. Ganso do mar …   Dicionário da Língua Portuguesa

  • barnacle — ► NOUN ▪ a marine crustacean which attaches itself permanently to underwater surfaces. DERIVATIVES barnacled adjective. ORIGIN Latin bernaca …   English terms dictionary

  • Barnacle — For other uses, see Barnacle (disambiguation). Barnacles Temporal range: Mid Cambrian–Recent …   Wikipedia

  • Barnacle — Créatures de Half Life Les créatures de Half Life, célèbre série de jeux vidéo, sont souvent d origine extra terrestre. Sommaire 1 Xenofaune 1.1 Écosystème 1.2 Espèces primitives 1.2.1 Barnacles …   Wikipédia en Français

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