nautilus

[nawt-l-uhs, not-]

noun

plural

nautiluses, nautili 

1. Also called chambered nautilus, pearly nautilus. any cephalopod of the genus Nautilus, having a spiral, chambered shell with pearly septa.

2. paper nautilus.

3. (initial capital letter),  the first nuclear-powered submarine launched by the U.S. Navy.

nautilus

/ ˈnɔːtɪləs /

noun

1. any cephalopod mollusc of the genus Nautilus, esp the pearly nautilus

2. short for paper nautilus

Word History and Origins

Origin of nautilus¹

1595–1605; < Latin < Greek nautílos paper nautilus, literally, sailor, derivative of naûs ship; the webbed dorsal arms of the paper nautilus were thought to have been used as sails

Word History and Origins

Origin of nautilus¹

C17: via Latin from Greek nautilos sailor, from naus ship