byssus

Meaning

1. (uncountable, usually) The long fine silky filaments excreted by several mollusks (particularly Pinna nobilis) by which they attach themselves to the sea bed, and from which sea silk is manufactured.
2. (uncountable, usually) Sea silk manufactured from these filaments.
3. (uncountable, usually) The stipe or stem of some fungi which are particularly thin and thread-like.

Synonyms

beard

fish wool

Translations

βύσσος

byssus

τριχίδιο μαλακίου

barbe

bisso

byssus

Bisso

نُسالَة

biso

Byssus

νημάτιο μαλακίου

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈbɪsəs/

Etymology

From New Latin byssus (“sea silk”), from Latin byssus (“fine cotton or cotton stuff, silk”), from Ancient Greek βύσσος (bússos, “a very fine yellowish flax and the linen woven from it”), from Hebrew בּוּץ (búts), Aramaic בּוּצָא (būṣā).