remora

Any of several marine fishes of the family Echeneidae, having on the head a sucking disk with which they attach themselves to sharks and other fishes, whales, sea turtles, or the hulls of ships.

Delay; obstacle; hindrance.

The sucking-fish, Echeneis remora, or any fish of the family Echeneididæ, having on the top of the head a flattened oval adhesive surface by means of which it can attach itself firmly to various objects, as another fish, a ship's bottom, etc., but whether for protection or conveyance, or both, has not been satisfactorily ascertained. It was formerly believed to have the power of delaying or stopping ships. See cuts under Echeneis and Rhombochirus.

A genus of such fishes, based on the species above-named.

In medicine, a stoppage or stagnation, as of the blood.