gastropod

American  

[gas-truh-pod] / ˈgæs trəˌpɒd /

noun

1. any mollusk of the class Gastropoda, comprising the snails, whelks, slugs, etc.

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adjective

1. Also gastropodous belonging or pertaining to the gastropods.

gastropod British  

/ ɡæsˈtrɒpədən, ˈɡæstrəˌpɒd /

noun

1. any mollusc of the class Gastropoda, typically having a flattened muscular foot for locomotion and a head that bears stalked eyes. The class includes the snails, whelks, limpets, and slugs

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adjective

1. of, relating to, or belonging to the Gastropoda

gastropod Scientific  

/ găs′trə-pŏd′ /

1. Any of various carnivorous or herbivorous mollusks of the class Gastropoda, having a head with eyes and feelers and a muscular foot on the underside of its body with which it moves. Most gastropods are aquatic, but some have adapted to life on land. Gastropods include snails, which have a coiled shell, and slugs, which have a greatly reduced shell or none at all.

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Word History

Snails, conchs, whelks, and many other similar animals with shells are all called gastropods by scientists. The word gastropod comes from Greek and means “stomach foot,” a name that owes its existence to the unusual anatomy of snails. Snails have a broad flat muscular “foot” used for support and for forward movement. This foot runs along the underside of the animal—essentially along its belly. The Greek elements gastro–, “stomach,” and –pod, “foot,” are found in many other scientific names, such as gastritis (an inflammation of the stomach) and sauropod (“lizard foot,” a type of dinosaur).

Other Word Forms

• gastropodan
  adjective
• gastropodous
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of gastropod

First recorded in 1820–30, gastropod is from the New Latin word Gast(e)ropoda a class of mollusks. See gastro-, -pod

Example Sentences

The authors are preparing experiments to test an alternative theory that they call the Gastropod Hypothesis.

From Science Daily • Jan. 9, 2024

In an episode of the Gastropod podcast, he said:

From Salon • Jan. 15, 2023

Meanwhile, Vox Media, which owns The Verge and Hot Pod, acquired Criminal Productions, capping off a year of acquisitions and partnerships that included Cafe Studios, Longform, and Gastropod.

From The Verge • Dec. 14, 2021

Gastropod is the tiny, excellent gastropub counterpart to Sodo’s Epic Ales; Mollusk will be in South Lake Union, on Dexter at Valley.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 15, 2015

The problem of the causes of the torsion of the Gastropod body has been much discussed.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 11, Slice 5 "Gassendi, Pierre" to "Geocentric" by Various