shipworm

ship·worm  (shpwûrm)

n.

Any of various wormlike marine mollusks of the genera Teredo and Bankia, having rudimentary bivalve shells with which they bore into wood, especially the submerged timbers of ships and wharves, often doing extensive damage.

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shipworm [ˈʃɪpˌwɜːm]

n

(Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Animals) any wormlike marine bivalve mollusc of the genus Teredo and related genera and family Teredinidae. They bore into wooden piers, ships, etc., by means of drill-like shell valves See also piddock

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

shipworm - wormlike marine bivalve that bores into wooden piers and ships by means of drill-like shells teredinid clam - burrowing marine mollusk living on sand or mud; the shell closes with viselike firmness family Teredinidae, Teredinidae - shipworms teredo - typical shipworm Bankia setaceae, giant northwest shipworm - giant shipworm of the Pacific coast of North America