Bristleworms

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Segmented marine worms that carry many stiff bristle-like hairs called setae along their bodies
2. Sea-dwelling annelid worms whose bodies are fringed with fine, stiff bristles used for movement
3. Polychaete worms of the ocean, distinguished by numerous bristle structures projecting from each body segment

Etymology: "Bristleworms" is simply the plural of "bristleworm," a noun for the bristly sea worms, a group of marine annelids. The singular is a compound of "bristle" and "worm." "Bristle" comes from Old English "bristl," which denoted the stiff hair of an animal, and "worm" comes from Old English "wyrm," a word for any small creeping creature, including snakes and grubs. Together they describe a worm covered in stiff bristle-like projections, the features that give these animals their name.

Synonyms: polychaete, annelid