REMORA

remora, suckerfish, sucking fish

(noun) marine fishes with a flattened elongated body and a sucking disk on the head for attaching to large fish or moving objects

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

remora (plural remora or remorae or remoras)

Any of various elongate fish from the family Echeneidae, the dorsal fin of which is in the form of a suction disc that can take a firm hold against the skin of larger marine animals. [from mid 16th c.]

Synonyms: echeneid, echeneidid, sharksucker, suckerfish, suckfish, suckstone (obsolete)

(heraldic charge) A serpent.

(obsolete) A delay; a hindrance, an obstacle.

(obsolete, surgery) A surgical instrument, intended to retain parts in their places.

Hyponyms

• (fish): pegador, swordfish sucker, whalesucker

Anagrams

• Marero, roamer

Source: Wiktionary

Rem"o*ra (rm"*r), n. Etym: [L.: cf. F. rémora.]

1. Delay; obstacle; hindrance. [Obs.] Milton.

2. (Zoöl.)

Definition: Any one of several species of fishes belonging to Echeneis, Remora, and allied genera. Called also sucking fish.

Note: The anterior dorsal fin is converted into a large sucking disk, having two transverse rows of lamellæ, situated on the top of the head. They adhere firmly to sharks and other large fishes and to vessels by this curious sucker, letting go at will. The pegador, or remora of sharks (Echeneis naucrates), and the swordfish remora (Remora brachyptera), are common American species.

3. (Surg.)

Definition: An instrument formerly in use, intended to retain parts in their places. Dunglison.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition