a mass of strong threads secreted by a sea mussel or similar mollusc that attaches the animal to a hard fixed surface
Word origin
C17: from Latin, from Greek bussos linen, flax, ultimately of Egyptian origin
byssus in American English
(ˈbɪsəs)
nounWord forms: pluralˈbyssuses or ˈbyssi (ˈbɪsaɪ)
1.
a fine fabric, esp. a linen cloth, used by the ancients, as in Egypt for mummy wrapping
2. Zoology
a tuft of filaments, chemically similar to silk, secreted by various marine bivalves, esp. the mussels, and used to attach the mollusk to the substratum
Word origin
L < Gr byssos, fine linen or cotton < Sem, as in Heb buts < Sem *b-w-tz, to be white