byssus

bys·sus

B0592800 (bĭs′əs)n. pl. bys·sus·es or bys·si (bĭs′ī′) 1. Zoology A mass of strong, silky filaments by which certain bivalve mollusks, such as mussels, attach themselves to rocks and other fixed surfaces.2. A fine-textured linen of ancient times, used by the Egyptians for wrapping mummies.

---

[Middle English bissus, linen cloth, from Latin, from Greek bussos, linen; akin to Sanskrit picuḥ, cotton (of Dravidian origin), or ultimately from Egyptian w'ḏ, linen.]

---

bys′sal (bĭs′əl) adj.

byssus

(ˈbɪsəs) n, pl byssuses or byssi (ˈbɪsaɪ) (Zoology) a mass of strong threads secreted by a sea mussel or similar mollusc that attaches the animal to a hard fixed surface[C17: from Latin, from Greek bussos linen, flax, ultimately of Egyptian origin]

bys•sus

(ˈbɪs əs)

n., pl. bys•sus•es, bys•si (ˈbɪs aɪ) 1. a collection of silky filaments by which certain mollusks attach themselves to rocks. 2. an ancient cloth, thought to be of linen, cotton, or silk. [1350–1400; Middle English < Latin < Greek býssos a fine cotton or linen < Semitic]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

byssus - tuft of strong filaments by which e.g. a mussel makes itself fast to a fixed surfacebeardfiber, fibre - a slender and greatly elongated substance capable of being spun into yarn