Barnacle
Pronunciation
- UK IPA: /ˈbÉ‘Ë(ɹ)nÉ™kəɫ/
Origin
From Middle English barnakille, from earlier bernake, bernekke, from Old French bernaque ("barnacle"), from Gaulish *barenica ("limpet") (compare Welsh brennig, Irish báirneac), from *barenos ("rock") (compare Old Irish barenn ("boulder")); for sense development, compare Ancient Greek λÎπας (lépas, "rock") which gave λεπάς (lepás, "limpet").
Full definition of barnacle
Noun
barnacle
(plural barnacles)- A marine crustacean of the subclass Cirripedia that attaches itself to submerged surfaces such as tidal rocks or the bottoms of ships.
- The barnacle goose.
- (engineering, slang) In electrical engineering, a change made to a product on the manufacturing floor that was not part of the original product design.
- (computing, slang) On printed circuit boards, a change such as soldering a wire in order to connect two points, or addition such as an added resistor or capacitor, subassembly or daughterboard.
- (obsolete) An instrument like a pair of pincers, to fix on the nose of a vicious horse while shoeing so as to make it more tractable.
- (archaic, British) A nickname for spectacles.
- (slang, obsolete) A good job, or snack easily obtained.
Related terms
Verb
- To connect with or attach.
- 2009, , Hidden Buddhas: A Novel of Karma and Chaos, Stone Bridge Press (2009), ISBN 9781933330853, page 178:Tokuda went over everything his grandfather had taught him, including the commentary that had barnacled on to the core knowledge.
- To press close against something.
- 2002, , All Families Are Psychotic, Vintage Canada (2002), ISBN 0679311831, page 16:He turned a corner to where he supposed the cupboard might be, to find Howie and Alanna barnacled together in an embrace.