hectocotylus

[ hek-tuh-kot-l-uhs ]

noun,plural hec·to·cot·y·li [hek-tuh-kot-l-ahy]. /ˌhɛk təˈkɒt lˌaɪ/. Zoology.
  1. a modified arm of the male of certain cephalopods that is used to transfer sperm to the female.

Origin of hectocotylus

1
1850–55; <New Latin, equivalent to hecto-hecto- + -cotylus<Greek kotýlē cup

Words Nearby hectocotylus

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British Dictionary definitions for hectocotylus

hectocotylus

/ (ˌhɛktəʊˈkɒtɪləs) /


nounplural -li (-ˌlaɪ)
  1. a tentacle in certain male cephalopod molluscs, such as the octopus, that is specialized for transferring spermatozoa to the female

Origin of hectocotylus

1
C19: New Latin, from hecto- + Greek kotulē cup

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