BYSSUS

Byssus

A byssus is a group of strong filaments that are secreted by some families of clams, in order to attach themselves to hard surfaces. Well known for possessing a byssus are several families of clams, including the pen shells, the true mussels and the false mussels: the Pinnidae, the Mytilidae and the Dreissenidae.

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byssus

Noun

  1. An exceptionally fine and valuable fibre or cloth of ancient times. Originally used for fine flax and linens, its use was later extended to fine cottons, silks, and sea silk.
  2. The long fine silky filaments excreted by several mollusks (particularly ) by which they attach themselves to the sea bed, and from which sea silk is manufactured.
  3. The stipe or stem of some fungi which are particularly thin and thread-like.


The above text is a snippet from Wiktionary: byssus
and as such is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

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