limpet

UK: /ˈlɪmpɪt/ US: /ˈlɪmpɪt/ ,(lim′pit)

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

lim•pet /ˈlɪmpɪt/   n. [countable]

1. Invertebrates a sea animal with a low cone-shaped shell that usually attaches itself to rocks.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

lim•pet  (lim′pit), n. 

1. Invertebrates any of various marine gastropods with a low conical shell open beneath, often browsing on rocks at the shoreline and adhering when disturbed.

• Greek lepás limpet
• Latin lepada, accusative of lepas
• Middle English lempet, Old English lempedu, nasalized variant of *lepedu bef. 1050

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

limpet / ˈlɪmpɪt/ noun

1. any of numerous marine gastropods, such as Patella vulgata (common limpet) and Fissurella (or Diodora) apertura (keyhole limpet), that have a conical shell and are found clinging to rocks
2. (modifier) relating to or denoting certain weapons that are attached to their targets by magnetic or adhesive properties and resist removal: limpet mines

Etymology: Old English lempedu, from Latin lepas, from Greek