See Also: Barnacle(medicine)
barnacle(1)(dictionary)
barnacle(2)(dictionary)
barnacle(encyclopedia)
barnacle(dictionary)
barnacle goose(encyclopedia)

barnacle(1) (iou)



barnacle noun1. ME.
[medieval Latin bernaca, of unkn. origin.]
A black, white, and grey goose, Branta leucopsis, breeding in the Arctic and visiting Britain in winter. Now usu. barnacle goose. ME.
A cirripede; esp. any of those which attach themselves directly or by a fleshy footstalk to rocks, ships' bottoms, or other objects. L16.
fig. A companion or follower who is difficult to shake off. E17.
? The geese, whose breeding grounds were long unknown, were formerly fabled to grow from the shells of the cirripedes, or else from a tree or its fruit.
barnacled adjective1 covered with barnacles (BARNACLE noun1 2); fig. encrusted: L17.