lamprey

UK: /ˈlæmprɪ/ US: /ˈlæmpri/ ,(lam′prē)

Inflections of 'lamprey' (n): npl: lampreys

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

lam•prey /ˈlæmpri/   n. [countable] , pl. -preys. 

1. Fish an eellike, jawless fish that attaches itself to other fishes with its round, sucking mouth.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

lam•prey  (lam′prē), n., pl. -preys. 

1. Fish any eellike marine or freshwater fish of the order Petromyzoniformes, having a circular, suctorial mouth with horny teeth for boring into the flesh of other fishes to feed on their blood. Also called lam′prey eel′, lamper eel. 

• Medieval Latin lampreda
• Late Latin lamprēda; replacing Old English lamprede
• Anglo-French *lampreie (Old French lamproie)
• Middle English lampreye 1250–1300

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

lamprey / ˈlæmprɪ/ noun

1. any eel-like cyclostome vertebrate of the family Petromyzonidae, having a round sucking mouth for clinging to and feeding on the blood of other animals
   Also called: lamper eel

Etymology: 13th Century: from Old French lamproie, from Late Latin lamprēda; origin obscure