Shipworm

Quick meaning: Shipworm is a noun meaning Any of several wormlike marine molluscs (not true worms) of the family Teredinidae that bore through the wooden hulls of ships and other woody material immersed in salt water; specifically, the naval shipworm or turu (Teredo navalis), the type species of the genus Teredo.

Meaning

Any of several wormlike marine molluscs (not true worms) of the family Teredinidae that bore through the wooden hulls of ships and other woody material immersed in salt water; specifically, the naval shipworm or turu (Teredo navalis), the type species of the genus Teredo.

Example Sentences

[W]e have suffered seriously in our dock yards and harbors by the operations of the shipworm, to which the soundest and hardest oak offers no impediment.

The Teredo, or ſhip-vvorm, has tvvo calcareous javvs, hemiſpherical, flat before, and angular behind. The ſhell is taper, vvinding, penetrating ſhips and ſubmarine vvood, and vvas brought from India into Europe,[…].

Once inside edible wood, the shipworm begins eating and growing, and some species, such as those in the Caribbean, can attain a length of over 3 feet. In our waters, however, the shipworm seldom attains a length of over a foot-and-a-half long.

The shipworms, wood boring bivalves of the family Teredinidae, belong to the oldest invaders. […] Even though mankind has tried to develop counter measures for thousands of years, still there is no easy solution to the shipworm problem in sight.

Word Forms

• shipworms

Synonyms for shipworm

Depending on context, synonyms include teredine, teredinid.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include teredinid, borer, woodworm, teredine, teredo, tubeworm.

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