octopus

English

/ˈɒkt.ə.pʊs/, /ˈɑːkt.ə.pʊs/

noun
Definitions
  • Any of several marine molluscs of the family Octopodidae, having no internal or external protective shell or bone (unlike the nautilus, squid and cuttlefish) and eight arms each covered with suckers.
  • (uncountable) The flesh of these marine molluscs eaten as food.
  • An organization that has many powerful branches controlled from the centre.

Etymology

Derived from Latin octopūs derived from Ancient Greek ὀκτώπους (eight feet).

Origin

Ancient Greek

ὀκτώπους

Gloss

eight feet

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms