palolo worm
noun
a polychaete worm, Eunice viridis, that lives in burrows among the coral reefs of several South Pacific islands, producing sperm or eggs in posterior segments that are cast off periodically in enormous numbers.
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Origin of palolo worm
First recorded in 1890–95
Words nearby palolo worm
palmy, Palmyra, Palo Alto, palo cortado, palolo, palolo worm, Paloma, Palomar, Palomar Observatory, palometa, palomino
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
British Dictionary definitions for palolo worm
palolo worm
/ (pəˈləʊləʊ) /
noun
any of several polychaete worms of the family Eunicidae, esp Eunice viridis, of the S Pacific Ocean: reproductive segments are shed from the posterior end of the body when breeding
Word Origin for palolo worm
C20 palolo, from Samoan or Tongan
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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