octopod

noun

oc·​to·​pod ˈäk-tə-ˌpäd How to pronounce octopod (audio)
: any of an order (Octopoda) of cephalopod mollusks (such as an octopus or argonaut) that have eight arms bearing sessile suckers
octopod adjective

Examples of octopod in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Less than a year after being discovered, Casper the octopod could be in mortal danger. Nathaniel Scharping, Discover Magazine, 20 Dec. 2016 This 20-foot-long, 15-foot-wide and 10-foot-high octopod will not only be lit up, but its tentacles will move. Chris Kaltenbach, baltimoresun.com, 10 Apr. 2018 The deep sea just got a little spookier with the discovery of a ghostly octopod off the Hawaiian archipelago. National Geographic, 4 Mar. 2016

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'octopod.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

ultimately from Greek oktōpod-, oktōpous scorpion, from oktō- octa- + pod-, pous foot — more at foot

First Known Use

1817, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of octopod was in 1817

Dictionary Entries Near octopod

Cite this Entry

“Octopod.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/octopod. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

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