n.
Pronunciation: ' bär-ni-k ə l
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English barnakille, alteration of bernake, bernekke
Date: 15th century
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
– bar · na · cled \ -k ə ld \ adjective
barnacle