murex
/ˈmjʊərɛks
/noun (plural murices /ˈmjʊərɪsiːz/ or murexes)
A predatory tropical marine mollusc, the shell of which bears spines and forms a long, narrow canal extending downwards from the aperture.
- Genus Murex, family Muricidae, class Gastropoda.
- In one corner were piles of seashells attractively packaged and framed in boxes for hanging on the wall - cowries and mitre shells, murex and spider shells.
- Tyrian purple, from the shellfish murex, was a dye reserved for the emperor; this dye was worth several times its weight in gold.
Origin
Late 16th century: from Latin; perhaps related to Greek muax 'sea mussel'.