Portuguese man-of-war
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noun
any of several large, oceanic hydrozoans of the genus Physalia, having a large, bladderlike structure with a saillike crest by which they are buoyed up and from which dangle tentacles with stinging cells.
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Origin of Portuguese man-of-war
First recorded in 1700–10
Words nearby Portuguese man-of-war
Portuguese, Portuguese East Africa, Portuguese Guinea, Portuguese Guinean, Portuguese India, Portuguese man-of-war, Portuguese Timor, Portuguese water dog, Portuguese West Africa, portulaca, portulacaceous
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
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British Dictionary definitions for Portuguese man-of-war
Portuguese man-of-war
noun
any of several large complex colonial hydrozoans of the genus Physalia, esp P. physalis, having an aerial float and long stinging tentacles: order SiphonophoraSometimes shortened to: man-of-war
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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