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
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
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
Morgan Hines, USA TODAY, 23 Dec. 2022
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
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
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'byssus.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Byssus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/byssus. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.
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