hectocotylus
[ hek-tuh-kot-l-uh s ]
/ ˌhɛk təˈkɒt l əs /
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noun, plural hec·to·cot·y·li [hek-tuh-kot-l-ahy] /ˌhɛk təˈkɒt lˌaɪ/. Zoology.
a modified arm of the male of certain cephalopods that is used to transfer sperm to the female.
Nearby words
heckuva, hect-, hectare, hectic, hecto-, hectocotylus, hectogram, hectograph, hectoliter, hectolitre, hectometer
Origin of hectocotylus
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for hectocotylus
Arms long and equal, without membrane; hectocotylus not autotomous.
Hectocotylus autotomous; arms unequal in size; aquiferous pores on head and funnel.
British Dictionary definitions for hectocotylus
hectocotylus
/ (ˌhɛktəʊˈkɒtɪləs) /
noun plural -li (-ˌlaɪ)
a tentacle in certain male cephalopod molluscs, such as the octopus, that is specialized for transferring spermatozoa to the female
Word Origin for hectocotylus
C19: New Latin, from hecto- + Greek kotulē cup
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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