arrowworm

American

[ar-oh-wurm] / ˈær oʊˌwɜrm /

noun

any small, translucent marine worm of the phylum (or class) Chaetognatha, having lateral and caudal fins.

arrowworm British

/ ˈærəʊˌwɜːm /

noun

any small marine invertebrate of the genus Sagitta , having an elongated transparent body with fins and prehensile oral bristles: phylum Chaetognatha (chaetognaths)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of arrowworm

First recorded in 1885–90; so called from a fancied resemblance to an arrow

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023