byssus
The long fine silky filaments excreted by several mollusks by which they attach…The long fine silky filaments excreted by several mollusks (particularly Pinna nobilis) by which they attach themselves to the sea bed, and from which sea silk is manufactured.
Meaning
3 senses(uncountable, usually)The long fine silky filaments excreted by several mollusks (particularly Pinna nobilis) by which they attach themselves to the sea bed, and from which sea silk is manufactured.
(uncountable, usually)Sea silk manufactured from these filaments.
виссо́нvissón
(uncountable, usually)The stipe or stem of some fungi which are particularly thin and thread-like.
- tuft of strong filaments by which e.g. a mussel makes itself fast to a fixed surface
Translations
5 languagesBy meaning 1
Origin
From Latin byssus, from Ancient Greek βύσσος (bússos, “flax; flax cotton”), from a SemiticFrom Latin byssus, from Ancient Greek βύσσος (bússos, “flax; flax cotton”), from a Semitic source cognate to Hebrew בּוּץ (būṣ, “byssus”) and Aramaic בּוּצָא (būṣā, “byssus”)
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Forms
plural: byssi / byssuses| Singular | byssus |
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uncountable
Synonyms
1 synonyms- tuft of strong filaments by which e.g. a mussel makes itself fast to a fixed surface:beard
Word family
9 related wordsLessons for this word
2 lessons- A1Plural nouns — Because its plural is irregular
- A1Countable and uncountable nouns — Because it can be uncountable