barnacle
Translation
barnacle, limpet
Examples
Barnacles covered the bottom of the old boat.
Barnacles covered the bottom of the old boat.
He's a real barnacle; I can't get rid of him.
He's a real barnacle; I can't get rid of him.
Grammar Patterns
((a/the)) barnacle on sth. a crustacean that attaches to things Barnacles covered the bottom of the boat.
Similar Words
Literal: crustacean; Figurative: pest, leech, hanger-on
Etymology
From Old French 'bernaque', of unknown origin.
Memory Tips
Imagine a barn covered in these sticky creatures. 'Barn-acle'.