What is "pholas dactylus"

Finger \Fin"ger\ (f[i^][ng]"g[~e]r), n. [AS. finger; akin to D. vinger, OS. & OHG. fingar, G. finger, Icel. fingr, Sw. & Dan. finger, Goth. figgrs; of unknown origin; perh. akin to E. fang.]

1. One of the five terminating members of the hand; a digit; esp., one of the four extremities of the hand, other than the thumb.

2. Anything that does the work of a finger; as, the pointer of a clock, watch, or other registering machine; especially (Mech.) a small projecting rod, wire, or piece, which is brought into contact with an object to effect, direct, or restrain a motion.

3. The breadth of a finger, or the fourth part of the hand; a measure of nearly an inch; also, the length of finger, a measure in domestic use in the United States, of about four and a half inches or one eighth of a yard.

   A piece of steel three fingers thick.
   --Bp. Wilkins.

4. Skill in the use of the fingers, as in playing upon a musical instrument. [R.]

   She has a good finger.
   --Busby.

   Ear finger, the little finger.

   Finger alphabet. See Dactylology.

   Finger bar, the horizontal bar, carrying slotted spikes, or fingers, through which the vibratory knives of mowing and reaping machines play.

   Finger board (Mus.), the part of a stringed instrument against which the fingers press the strings to vary the tone; the keyboard of a piano, organ, etc.; manual.

   Finger bowl Finger glass, a bowl or glass to hold water for rinsing the fingers at table.

   Finger flower (Bot.), the foxglove.

   Finger grass (Bot.), a kind of grass ( Panicum sanguinale) with slender radiating spikes; common crab grass. See Crab grass, under Crab.

   Finger nut, a fly nut or thumb nut.

   Finger plate, a strip of metal, glass, etc., to protect a painted or polished door from finger marks.

   Finger post, a guide post bearing an index finger.

   Finger reading, reading printed in relief so as to be sensible to the touch; -- so made for the blind.

   Finger shell (Zo["o]l.), a marine shell ( Pholas dactylus) resembling a finger in form.

   Finger sponge (Zo["o]l.), a sponge having finger-shaped lobes, or branches.

   Finger stall, a cover or shield for a finger.

   Finger steel, a steel instrument for whetting a currier's knife.

   To burn one's fingers. See under Burn.

   To have a finger in, to be concerned in. [Colloq.]

   To have at one's fingers' ends, to be thoroughly familiar with. [Colloq.]

Pholas Dactylus is an Italian progressive rock band active in the 1970s. The name is that of a shell.

The band was formed around 1972 by Bergamo's musicians, coming from two previously existing ones, with the name of Spectre. After intense live activity, in 1973 they released their sole LP, Concerto delle menti ("Concerto for minds"): this a rather experimental, avantgarde work including Biblical, mythological and science fiction influences, marked by a strong symbolism.

Though full of suggestion and praised by critics, the album had little success and the band split up due to financial problems.

Pholas dactylus or common piddock is a bioluminescent clam-like species of marine mollusc found on the coasts of the North Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea. It bores into gneiss. It was once a highly esteemed food in Europe. It is sensitive to light, retracting into its shell when exposed to it.