Balanus

noun

Bal·​a·​nus

ˈbalənəs

: a very large genus (the type of the family Balanidae) of barnacles comprising the sessile acorn barnacles and including littoral and deepwater forms some of which cause destructive fouling of ships and of underwater cables

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Latin, acorn, from Greek balanos

First Known Use

1728, in the meaning defined above

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