ancistrosyrinx

noun

an·​cis·​tro·​syrinx

an¦sistrō +

1

capitalized : a small genus (family Turritidae) of gastropod mollusks that occur in warm deep seas and have delicate steeply shouldered pale shells ringed with upward-curving spines

2

plural ancistrosyringes : any mollusk or shell of the genus Ancistrosyrinx

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Greek ankistron fishhook + syrinx shepherd's pipe

First Known Use

1881, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!