Forms: 3, 6–7 lamprei(e, -ye, 4–7 lampray(e, laumpray, -ee, -ey, 5 laumperey, lawmpery, 5–7 lampre, 6–7 lampry, lamprie, 4– lamprey. [a. OF. *lampreie (OF. and mod.F. lamproie) Pr. lampreza, lamprea, lamprada, It. lampreda (the Sp., Pg. lamprea seem to be from Fr.):—med.L. lamprēda (glossed muræna c. 1050 in Wr.-Wülcker, 180/28); the word was adopted into the Teut. langs.: OE. lamprede (also lęmpedu LIMPET), OHG. lampreta (mod.G. lamprete, whence Sw., Da. lampret), MDu. lampreide. The ulterior etymology is uncertain.
The med.L. lamprēda is usually believed to be an alteration of the synonymous lampetra (recorded earlier, viz. in the Glossary of Philoxenus, ? 4–5th c.), which is explained as f. L. lambĕre to lick + petra stone, in allusion to the fact that the lamprey attaches itself by a sucker to stones. The use of med.L. lamprēda for the LIMPET as well as the lamprey gives some plausibility to this; but possibly lampetra may be merely an etymologizing perversion.]
A fish of the genus Petromyzon, resembling an eel in shape and in having no scales. It has a mouth like a sucker, pouch-like gills, seven spiracles or apertures on each side of the head, and a fistula or opening on the top of the head.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 9114–17. Þo he com he willede of an lampreye to ete … & et as in luþer cas, vor þulke lampreie him slou.
1333–4. Durham Acc. Rolls (Surtees), 21. In xij Laumprays.
c. 1400. Rom. Rose, 7038. They defende hem with lamprey, With luce, with elis, with samons.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 5473. Lamprays of weȝt Twa hundreth pond ay a pece.
1444. Pol. Poems (Rolls), II. 218. Withoute avys make no comparysoun Atween a laumperey and a shynyng snake.
1531. Tindale, Exp. 1 John Prol., Wks. (1573), 388/2. The boy … would fayne haue eaten of the pastie of lamprese.
1634. R. H., Salernes Regim., 88. Although Lampreyes be a little wholesommer then Eeles, and lesse jeopardous.
1672–3. Marvell, Reh. Transp., Wks. 1776, II. 61. He hath been fed all his life with vipers insteed of lampres, and scorpions for cray fish.
1720. Gay, Poems (1745), II. 122. Why then send lampreys? fy, for shame ’Twill set a virgins blood on flame.
1837. M. Donovan, Dom. Econ., II. 201. The Lamprey, like the eel … is remarkably tenacious of life.
1870. Yeats, Nat. Hist. Comm., 324. Lampreys reach this country packed in jars with vinegar,… and bay leaves.
b. attrib. and Comb., as lamprey-pie, -weel; lamprey bake = lamprey-pie; lamprey-eel, the Sea-lamprey (Pteromyzon marinus); lamprey-stock (see quot.).
c. 1440. Douce MS. 55 lf. 31 b. *Lampray bake.
c. 1460. J. Russell, Bk. Nurture, 630. Fresche lamprey bake þus it must be dight.
1883. C. F. Holder, in Harper’s Mag., Dec., 102/1. Very similar in its habit of erecting a nest is the *lamprey-eel (Petromyzon marinus).
1599. H. Buttes, Dyets drie Dinner, M 3. Many in England have surfetted of *Lampry pies, as our Chronicles will tell us.
1599. Massinger, etc., Old Law, II. i. (1656), 22. Backe Snakes for Lamprie Pies, and Cats for Cunnies.
1883. Fisheries Exhib. Catal., 365. *Lamprey ‘Stock.’—A wooden Cylinder for catching Lampreys. Ibid., 366. *Lamprey-Weel.
