decapod

[dek-uh-pod]

noun

1. any crustacean of the order Decapoda, having five pairs of walking legs, including the crabs, lobsters, crayfish, prawns, and shrimps.

2. any dibranchiate cephalopod having ten arms, as the cuttlefish or squid.

3. (initial capital letter),  a steam locomotive having a two-wheeled front truck, ten driving wheels, and no rear truck.

adjective

1. belonging or pertaining to the decapods.

2. having ten feet or legs.

decapod

/ ˈdɛkəˌpɒd, dɪˈkæpədəl /

noun

1. any crustacean of the mostly marine order Decapoda, having five pairs of walking limbs: includes the crabs, lobsters, shrimps, prawns, and crayfish

2. any cephalopod mollusc of the order Decapoda, having a ring of eight short tentacles and two longer ones: includes the squids and cuttlefish

adjective

1. of, relating to, or belonging to either of these orders

2. (of any other animal) having ten limbs

decapod

1. Any of various crustaceans of the order Decapoda, characteristically having ten legs, each joined to a segment of the thorax. Crabs, hermit crabs, lobsters, and shrimp are decapods.

2. A cephalopod mollusk, such as a squid or cuttlefish, having ten armlike tentacles.

Other Word Forms

• decapodan adjective
• decapodous adjective
• decapodal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of decapod¹

First recorded in 1825–35, decapod is from the New Latin word Decapoda name of the order. See deca-, -pod

Example Sentences

In the search for a better welfare of animals that we humans kill for food, researchers at the University of Gothenburg have chosen to focus on decapod crustaceans.

Read more on Science Daily

The details of convergent evolution might of course be more complex in the eukaryotes, multicellular organisms like humans or decapods with large genomes, the total genetic material of an organism.

Read more on Salon

A government review led by Prof Birch in 2021 assessed 300 scientific studies on the sentience of decapods and Cephalopods, which include octopus, squid, and cuttlefish.

Read more on BBC

But Democratic discord simmered beneath the pleasantries at the Feb. 23 decapod dinner.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

There is not enough scientific information about the most humane ways to slaughter decapods.

Read more on Salon