remora
/ˈrɛmərə
/noun
A slender marine fish which attaches itself to large fish by means of a sucker on top of the head. It generally feeds on the host’s external parasites. Also called shark-sucker, suckerfish.
- Family Echeneidae: several genera and species, in particular the widespread Remora remora.
- Large remoras may attach themselves to turtles and act as cleaners, removing various external parasites.
- Those days were great for snorkeling and we saw all sorts of sea life, including sharks and spotted eagle rays complete with remoras.
Origin
Mid 16th century: from Latin, literally 'hindrance', from re- 'back' + mora 'delay' (because of the former belief that the fish slowed down ships).
Rhymes
- church censurer
- church choir
- church clerk
- church cloth
- church clothes
- church coffer
- church collection
- Church Commissioner
- Church Commissioners
- church congress
- church court
- church covenant
- church covenanting
- churchdom
- church door
- church errant
- Churches of Christ
- Church Estates Commission
- Church Estates Commissioner
- church fair
- church father
- church festival
- church flag
- church folk
- church formula