branchiopod

noun

bran·chio·pod | \ ˈbraŋ-kē-ə-ˌpäd

Definition of branchiopod

: any of a group (Branchiopoda) of small usually freshwater crustaceans (such as fairy shrimp or water fleas) with usually many pairs of setae-bearing appendages

History and Etymology for branchiopod

borrowed from French branchiopode or New Latin Branchiopoda, originally as a New Latin genus name, from Greek bránchia "gills" + -o- -o- + -poda, neuter plural (apparently taken as feminine singular) of -pous "having feet (of the kind indicated)," derivative of poús "foot" — more at branchial, foot entry 1

Note: As a taxon Branchiopoda was introduced first as a genus name (Branchiopoda stagnalis, now Tanymastix stagnalis) by Jean-Baptiste lamarck in Système des animaux sans vertèbres (Paris, An X—1801), p. 161. French Branchiopodes was used as an order name by Pierre André Latreille (1762-1833) in Georges cuvier, Le Règne animal distribué d'après son organisation, tome 3, Les crustacés, les arachnides et les insectes, par M. Latreille (Paris, 1817) p. 59.