Adjacent Words

Remora definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

REM'ORA, n. [L. from re and moror, to delay.]
1. Delay; obstacle; hinderance. [Not in use.]
2. The sucking fish, a species of Echeneis, which is said to attach itself to the bottom or side of a ship and retard its motion.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: marine fishes with a flattened elongated body and a sucking disk on the head for attaching to large fish or moving objects [syn: remora, suckerfish, sucking fish]

Merriam Webster's

noun Etymology: Late Latin, from Latin, delay, from remorari to delay, from re- + morari to delay — more at moratorium Date: 1567 1. any of a family (Echeneidae) of marine bony fishes that have the anterior dorsal fin modified into a suctorial disk on the head by means of which they adhere especially to other fishes 2. hindrance, drag

Britannica Concise

Any of 8-10 species of marine fishes (family Echeneidae) noted for attaching themselves to, and riding about on, sharks, other marine animals, and oceangoing ships. Remoras adhere by means of a flat, oval sucking disk on top of the head. They are thin and dark, 1-3 ft (30-90 cm) long. They live in warm waters worldwide, feeding on the leavings or the external parasites of their hosts.

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. Zool. any of various marine fish of the family Echeneidae, which attach themselves by modified sucker-like fins to other fish and to ships. Etymology: L, = hindrance (as RE-, mora delay, from the former belief that the fish slowed ships down)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Remora Rem"o*ra (r?m"?*r?), n. [L.: cf. F. r['e]mora.] 1. Delay; obstacle; hindrance. [Obs.] --Milton. 2. (Zo["o]l.) 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 lamell[ae], 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.) An instrument formerly in use, intended to retain parts in their places. --Dunglison.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Remora Rem"o*ra (r?m"?*r?), n. [L.: cf. F. r['e]mora.] 1. Delay; obstacle; hindrance. [Obs.] --Milton. 2. (Zo["o]l.) 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 lamell[ae], 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.) An instrument formerly in use, intended to retain parts in their places. --Dunglison.