spondylus

1 of 2

noun

spon·​dy·​lus

"

1

capitalized : a genus of large, thick, inequivalve, usually spinose and attached, bivalve mollusks (family Spondylidae) that are remarkable for perfection of the hinge

2

plural -es : any mollusk of the family Spondylidae : spiny oyster

-spondylus

2 of 2

noun combining form

-spon·​dy·​lus

"

: animal having (such) vertebrae

—in generic names

Palaeospondylus

Word History

Etymology

Noun

New Latin, from Latin, a kind of mussel, from Greek spondylos

Noun combining form

New Latin, from Latin spondylus vertebra

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