We use cookies to enhance your experience on our website. By continuing to use our website, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. You can change your cookie settings at any time.ContinueFind out more
A predatory tropical marine mollusk, the shell of which bears spines and forms a long narrow canal extending downward from the aperture.
Genus Murex, family Muricidae, class Gastropoda
‘The region around Tyre was well known in the ancient world for its purple dye made from the murex grandaris mollusc.’
‘Tyrian purple, from the shellfish murex, was a dye reserved for the emperor; this dye was worth several times its weight in gold.’
‘In one corner were piles of seashells attractively packaged and framed in boxes for hanging on the wall - cowries and mitre shells, murex and spider shells.’
‘However, the creatures inside murex shells are edible and are consumed in some parts of the world.’
Origin
Late 16th century: from Latin; perhaps related to Greek muax ‘sea mussel’.