gribble
/ˈɡrɪbəl/
noun
- A small marine crustacean that burrows into and damages wooden structures in seawater, such as piers and ship hulls.
- Sailors used to coat their ships with tar to protect them from gribbles.
- The old pier was weakened by thousands of gribbles eating away at the wood.
- Marine biologists study gribbles because they can digest wood without harming the environment.