barnacles
BAR-nuh-kulz
Definition
Small, hard-shelled marine organisms that attach themselves permanently to objects like boat hulls, metaphorically referring to persistent, obstructive habits or misconceptions that accumulate over time.
Etymology
Derived from Middle English 'bernacle,' referring to a type of goose once believed to grow from shells on wood in the sea. The term expanded to include the crustacean itself, and later, the figurative sense of something that clings tenaciously to a surface or system.
In the news
The article uses 'barnacles' to describe the persistent, inaccurate myths about FedRAMP certification that have built up among federal workers, acting as unwanted barriers to technology adoption.
VA’s cloud security memo more mythbuster than new policy
Read the full article ↗Federal News Network