barnacle

Everyday

1. A small sea animal with a hard shell that sticks itself to rocks, ships and whales and stays there. tree →
2. (informal) A person who sticks to someone and will not go away. tree →
3. A barnacle can also be a humorous old word for a pair of trousers or pantaloons. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons about rock pools and sea life, barnacles are crustaceans (related to crabs) that feed by waving feathery legs to catch food. On a beach trip children see them on rocks and piers. Phrases: "covered in barnacles", "barnacle geese".

Examples

• The rocks at the beach were covered in barnacles. tree →
• Barnacles stick to the bottom of boats and slow them down. tree →
• A barnacle catches food with its feathery legs. tree →
• Be careful, barnacles are sharp on bare feet. tree →
• The old whale had barnacles on its skin. tree →
• Barnacles are related to crabs and lobsters, not to snails. tree →
• My little brother clung to me like a barnacle all day. tree →
• “No, that's my 'barnacle.' And what do you call these?” said he pointing to his pantaloons. tree →

Note

Countable: a barnacle, barnacles. Many people think barnacles are shellfish like mussels, but they are crustaceans. The barnacle goose is a bird; old stories wrongly said it grew from barnacles.