plural byssuses or byssi
ˈbi-ˌsī 
-(ˌ)sē
1
: a fine probably linen cloth of ancient times
2
[New Latin, from Latin]
: a tuft of long tough filaments by which some bivalve mollusks (such as mussels) adhere to a surface
Examples of byssus in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Eliminate the incrustations and the byssus, if present, wash them very well under running water.
—
Morgan Hines, USA TODAY, 23 Dec. 2022
Then comes the slightly tedious task, which is pulling off the byssus, or beard, a small length of what looks like black threads twisted together.
—Washington Post, 29 Oct. 2020
The granules consist of iron and a protein called mfp-1, heavily linked to one other - this makes the byssus hard.
—Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 5 Mar. 2010
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Morgan Hines, USA TODAY, 23 Dec. 2022
Then comes the slightly tedious task, which is pulling off the byssus, or beard, a small length of what looks like black threads twisted together.
—Washington Post, 29 Oct. 2020
The granules consist of iron and a protein called mfp-1, heavily linked to one other - this makes the byssus hard.
—Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 5 Mar. 2010
Cite this Entry
“Byssus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/byssus. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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