The Collaborative International Dictionary
Barnacle \Bar"na*cle\, n. [Prob. from E. barnacle a kind of goose, which was popularly supposed to grow from this shellfish; but perh. from LL. bernacula for pernacula, dim. of perna ham, sea mussel; cf. Gr. pe`rna ham. Cf. F. bernacle, barnacle, E. barnacle a goose; and Ir. bairneach, barneach, limpet.] (Zo["o]l.) Any cirriped crustacean adhering to rocks, floating timber, ships, etc., esp.
the sessile species (genus Balanus and allies), and
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the stalked or goose barnacles (genus Lepas and allies). See Cirripedia, and Goose barnacle.
Barnacle eater (Zo["o]l.), the orange filefish.
Barnacle scale (Zo["o]l.), a bark louse ( Ceroplastes cirripediformis) of the orange and quince trees in Florida. The female scale curiously resembles a sessile barnacle in form.