barnacle

noun

bar·​na·​cle ˈbär-ni-kəl 

1

: barnacle goose

2

[from a popular belief that the goose grew from the crustacean] : any of numerous marine crustaceans (subclass Cirripedia) with feathery appendages for gathering food that are free-swimming as larvae but permanently fixed (as to rocks, boat hulls, or whales) as adults

barnacled

ˈbär-ni-kəld 

adjective

Illustration of barnacle

• 1 peduncle
• 2 cirri

Examples of barnacle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Sunk, barnacle-laden landing craft, tanks and shipwrecks still dot the seabed off its shore. — Rob Newell, Baltimore Sun, 10 Nov. 2026

That barnacle of a ballroom being attached to the White House is being funded, in part, by people and companies with business before the federal government. — Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 8 Nov. 2026

Then one sharp pop pulled my attention to a single acorn barnacle. — Phil Starks, The Conversation, 6 Nov. 2026

One cheek sports a pink starfish while the other is covered with barnacles. — Jenelle Riley, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English barnakille, alteration of bernake, bernekke

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing barnacle

• barnacle goose

Kids Definition

barnacle

noun

bar·​na·​cle ˈbär-ni-kəl 

: any of numerous small saltwater crustaceans with feathery outgrowths for gathering food that are free-swimming as larvae but as adults are permanently fastened (as to rocks or the bottoms of ships)

barnacled

-kəld 

adjective