lamprey \lam"prey\ la^m"pry^, n.; pl. lampreys
   la^m"pri^z. oe. lampreie, f. lamproie, ll. lampreda,
   lampetra, from l. lambere to lick + petra rock, stone. the
   lampreys are so called because they attach themselves with
   their circular mouths to rocks and stones, whence they are
   also called rocksuckers. see lap to drink, petrify.
   zool.
   an eel-like marsipobranch of the genus petromyzon, and
   allied genera; called also lamprey eel and lamper eel.
   the lampreys have a round, sucking mouth, without jaws, but
   set with numerous minute teeth, and one to three larger teeth
   on the palate see illust. of cyclostomi. there are seven
   small branchial openings on each side. written also
   lamprel, and lampron.
   1913 webster

   note: the common or sea lamprey of america and europe
         petromyzon marinus, which in spring ascends rivers
         to spawn, is considered excellent food by many, and is
         sold as a market fish in some localities. the smaller
         river lampreys mostly belong to the genus
         ammocoeles, or lampetra, as ammocoeles
         fluviatilis, of europe, and ammocoeles
         aepypterus of america. all lampreys attach
         themselves to other fishes, as parasites, by means of
         the suckerlike mouth.
         1913 webster
see also:
lampreys rocksuckers lap petrify petromyzon lamprey eel 
lamper eel cyclostomi lamprel lampron petromyzon marinus 
ammocoeles lampetra ammocoeles fluviatilis ammocoeles aepypterus 

petromyzon marinus
     n : large anadromous lamprey sometimes used as food; destructive
         of native fish fauna in the great lakes syn: sea
         lamprey
see also:
sea lamprey