remora

Noun

remora (plural remora or remorae or remoras)

1. Any of various elongate fish from the family Echeneidae, the dorsal fin of which is in the form of a suction disc that can take a firm hold against the skin of larger marine animals.
   • The Remoræ (Echeneisidæ) form the last family of the soft-finned, subbrachian fishes. They are characterized at once by the top of their heads being flattened, and furnished with transverse series of cartilaginous plates, somewhat similar to the plates under the toes of the Gecko, by which these...1832, “Room XI. General Collection of Fish and Corals.”, in Synopsis of the Contents of the British Museum, 26th edition, London: Printed by G[eorge] Woodfall, […], →OCLC, page 86
   • The remora, lump-sucker, and others are provided with a muscular disk in the form of a sucker, by which they adhere to other fish or bodies moving through the water: [...]1839, P. Evers, “On the Muscular System in the Vertebrata. [Pisces.]”, in The Student’s Compendium of Comparative Anatomy (Dunglison’s American Medical Library), Philadelphia, Pa.: Printed and...

   Synonyms:

   echeneid, echeneidid, sharksucker, suckerfish, suckfish, suckstone

2. A serpent.
   • LORD SCARSDALE. [...] On the dexter ſide, the figure of Prudence repreſented by a woman, habited argent, mantled azure, holding in her ſiniſter hand a javelin entwined with a remora proper; [...]1766 July 23, [Edward] Kimber, “Barons”, in The Peerage of England. […], volume 60, London: Printed for H[enry] Woodfall, […], →OCLC, page 217
3. (obsolete) A delay; a hindrance, an obstacle.
   • For to ſay [...] That the ſolidneſſe of the Earth is for the ſtation and Manſion of liuing creatures: and the like, is well inquired & collected in METAPHISICKE, but in PHISICKE they are impertinent. Nay, they are indeed but Remoraes and hinderances to ſtay and ſlugge the Shippe from furder...1605, Francis Bacon, “The Second Booke”, in The Twoo Bookes of Francis Bacon. Of the Proficience and Aduancement of Learning, Diuine and Humane, London: […] [Thomas Purfoot and Thomas Creede] for...
   • [H]is Majeſty, long ſince weary of the yoke of all Parliaments, (the only Remora to his abſolute intended Monarchy) and repenting of the Act for continuing this, [...] is now reſolved (in proſecution of his priſtine Counſels) by force or policy to diſſolve this Parliament in diſcontent, [...]1643, William Prynne, “The Soveraigne Power of Parliaments & Kingdomes. […]”, in The Soveraigne Power of Parliaments and Kingdomes: […], London: […] Michael Sparke Senior, →OCLC, page 29
4. (obsolete) A surgical instrument, intended to retain parts in their places.
   • Rem′ora [...] The name of two surgical instruments, intended to retain parts in situ. The one was used, formerly, in castration, to prevent the intestines from protruding at the inguinal ring: the other, called Rem′ora Hilda′ni, (F[rench]) Arrêt d'Hildan, εχενηις, was employed to retain fractures...[1833, Robley Dunglison, “Rem′ora”, in A New Dictionary of Medical Science and Literature, […], volumes II (M–Z), Boston, Mass.: […] [E. W. Metcalf and Company] for Charles Bowen, →OCLC, page 429...