Lăm'prey, n.

n. [Fr. lamproie, Sp. & Pg. lamprea, Pr. lamprada, lampreza, lamprea, It. lampreda, D. lamprei, A-S. lamprede, Ger. lamprete, L. Lat. lampreta, Late Lat. lampetra, from lambere, to lick, and petra, rock, stone;—so called because these fishes attach themselves with their circular mouths to rocks and stones, whence they are also called rock-suckers.] (Ichth.) An eel-like fish of the genus Petromyzon, having a round, sucking mouth set with numerous minute teeth, and two large teeth on the palate. It was formerly esteemed a great delicacy, and is still eaten. The European sea-lamprey is P. marinus; the American, P. Americanus. The river lamprey is P. fluviatilis. [Written also lamper-eel, lamprel, and lampron.]

Lamprey (Petromyzon marinus).