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Remora

//ɹɪˈmɔːɹə// noun

Definitions

Noun

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 fish attach themselves to ships, rocks, and marine bodies."
2
marine fishes with a flattened elongated body and a sucking disk on the head for attaching to large fish or moving objects wordnet
3
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; [...]"
4
A delay; a hindrance, an obstacle. obsolete
"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 ſayling, and haue brought this to paſſe, that the ſearch of the Phiſicall Cauſes hath beene neglected."
5
A surgical instrument, intended to retain parts in their places. obsolete
"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 and luxations reduced. It is not now used."

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin remora (“delay, hindrance, passive resistance”), from the belief that the fish would attach themselves to ships and slow them down, from re- (prefix meaning ‘back, backwards’) + mora (“delay”) (from Proto-Indo-European *mere (“to delay, hinder”), from *(s)mer- (“to fall into thinking, remember; to care for”)).

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