glochidium

glo·chid·i·um

G0154200 (glō-kĭd′ē-əm)n. pl. glo·chid·i·a (-ē-ə) The parasitic larva of most freshwater mussels, having hooks for attaching to the gills or other external parts of a host fish.

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[New Latin glōchidium : Greek glōkhīs, barb of an arrow + Latin -idium, diminutive suff. (from Greek -idion).]

glochidium

(ɡləʊˈkɪdɪəm) n, pl -chidia (-ˈkɪdɪə) 1. (Botany) Also called: glochid a barbed hair, esp among the spore masses of water ferns and on certain other plants2. (Zoology) a parasitic larva of certain freshwater mussels that attaches itself to the fins or gills of fish by hooks or suckers[C19: from New Latin, from Greek glōkhis projecting point] gloˈchidiate adj

glo•chid•i•um

(gloʊˈkɪd i əm)

n., pl. -chid•i•a (-ˈkɪd i ə) 1. a short hair, bristle, or spine having a barbed tip. 2. the larva of a freshwater mussel of the family Unionidae: a parasite of fishes. [1895–1900; < New Latin < Greek glōch(ís) point of an arrow] glo•chid′i•al, adj.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

glochidium - a barbed spine or bristle (often tufted on cacti)glochidpricker, prickle, spikelet, sticker, thorn, spine - a small sharp-pointed tip resembling a spike on a stem or leaf