Chilopod

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A creature classified within arthropods, notable for its elongated body that features numerous segments and a significant number of legs, is often predatory in nature
2. An arthropod that is characterized by its multiple-segmented body structure and a plethora of legs, this organism typically exhibits carnivorous habits
3. A type of arthropod distinguished by a lengthy, segmented body and a high leg count, which predominantly engages in predation on other smaller animals

Etymology: The name of centipedes and their relatives is a compound built from two Ancient Greek words: "kheilos", meaning "lip", and "pous" (in its genitive form "podos"), meaning "foot" or "leg". Put together, the sense is "lip-foot", and the reason is anatomical. In these creatures, the first pair of legs has been modified into venom-delivering claws, and they sit right at the front of the head where a lip-like structure would be expected, so the name points to the spot where a member of the animal's body is working in the mouth area. The combining form "-pod" is a familiar Greek element that English has used for centuries in words such as "arthropod" and "tripod", which shows how the second half of this term fits into a larger family of scientific names. The first half, "chilo-", is less familiar outside biology but turns up in a handful of other technical coinages built from the same Greek root.

Synonyms: centipede