1 any of various marine gastropod molluscs, esp. the common limpet Patella vulgata, with a shallow conical shell and a broad muscular foot that sticks tightly to rocks.
2 a clinging person.
Phrases and idioms:
limpet mine a mine designed to be attached to a ship's hull and set to explode after a certain time.
Etymology: OE lempedu f. med.L lampreda limpet, LAMPREY
Useful english dictionary. 2012.