platypus etymology

Etymology:

The word "platypus" is derived from the Greek words "platys," meaning "flat," and "pous," meaning "foot." It was coined by the English naturalist George Shaw in 1799 to describe the unique webbed feet of the animal.

Meaning:

The term "platypus" refers to the following:

  • A semi-aquatic mammal native to eastern Australia and Tasmania, known for its unique physical characteristics, including a flattened bill, webbed feet, and venomous spurs on its hindlegs.
  • The common name for the species Ornithorhynchus anatinus, which belongs to the monotreme order of mammals and is endemic to Australia.

Origin:

The platypus is a unique and iconic animal that has fascinated scientists and nature enthusiasts alike. Its distinct features and the contrasting elements of its anatomy have led to centuries of scientific inquiry and discussion about its evolutionary history and classification.

The platypus evolved from a group of early mammals that shared characteristics with both reptiles and mammals. Over millions of years, it adapted to its specific environment, developing specialized features such as its webbed feet for swimming and its bill for filtering food.

The platypus remains an extraordinary and enigmatic creature, embodying the diversity and adaptability of the natural world.

platypus relate terms

  • antipodes

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  • apodal

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  • Arthropoda

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  • babouche

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  • biped

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  • brachiopod

    Etymology Brachiopod Derived from Greek brachion arm and pous foot Meaning a

  • cap a pie

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  • centipede

    Etymology The word centipede originates from Latin Centum Meaning hundred Pes M

  • cephalopod

    Etymology The word cephalopod comes from the Greek words kephale head and podos f

  • cheliped

    Etymology Cheli Greek claw pod Greek foot Meaning A cheliped is a claw bearin

  • chiropodist

    Etymology Chiro Greek hand pod Greek foot Meaning A chiropodist is a healt

  • expedite

    Etymology Old French expedier Late Latin expedire Latin ex out pes foot

  • expedition

    Etymology Expedition comes from the Latin word expeditio meaning a military campaign

  • foot

    Etymology The word foot derives from the Old English word fot which is of Germanic o

  • foosball

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  • fetch

    Etymology The word fetch comes from the Middle English word fetchen which in turn is

  • fetter

    Etymology The word fetter comes from the Middle English word fetier which is derive

  • fetlock

    Etymology The word fetlock is derived from the Old English word fetels meaning fet

  • gastropod

    Etymology The word gastropod comes from the Greek words gaster γαστήρ meaning

  • hexapod

    Etymology Greek hexa six pod foot Meaning A hexapod is an animal that has

  • impede

    Etymology Latin impedīre to entangle obstruct hinder Proto Indo European ped f

  • impediment

    Etymology Latin impedimentum hindrance obstacle Proto Indo European ped foot

  • impeach

    Etymology The word impeach originates from Old French empeechier and dates back to th

  • impeccable

    Etymology Impeccable derives from the Latin word impeccabilis which is formed from

  • isopod

    Etymology The word isopod is derived from two Greek words isos ἴσος meaning

  • millipede

    Etymology The word millipede is derived from two Greek words Milli meaning thou

  • octopus

    Etymology From Ancient Greek ὀκτώπους oktōpous from ὀκτώ oktō eig

  • ornithopod

    Etymology Greek ornithos ὄρνις bird podos πούς foot Meaning Orn

  • pajamas

    Etymology The word pajamas originates from the Hindi and Persian word paejama which

  • pawn

    Etymology The word pawn originates from the Old French word paon meaning peacock

  • peccadillo

    Etymology The word peccadillo comes from the Latin word peccatum meaning sin or

  • peccant

    Etymology From Latin peccans present participle of peccare to sin commit a fault M

  • peccavi

    Etymology Latin meaning I have sinned Meaning The word peccavi is a confession of

  • pedal

    Etymology The word pedal comes from the Latin word pedalis which means of the foot

  • pedestrian

    Etymology The word pedestrian comes from the Latin word pedes meaning foot Mean

  • pedicel

    Origin and Etymology The word pedicel is derived from the Latin word pediculus which

  • pedicle

    Etymology The word pedicle comes from the Late Latin word pediculus meaning little

  • pedicure

    Etymology The word pedicure is derived from the Latin words pedis meaning foot

  • pedigree

    Etymology The word pedigree is derived from the following roots Latin pes foot

  • pedology

  • pedometer

    Etymology The word pedometer comes from the Greek words pedos foot and metron me

  • peduncle

    Etymology The word peduncle is derived from the Latin word pedunculus which means li

  • pejoration

    Etymology From Late Latin pejoratio from Latin peior worse atio noun suffix

  • peon

    Etymology The origin of the word peon is uncertain but there are several proposed et

  • pessimism

    Etymology Pessimism derives from the Latin pessimus meaning worst or most evil I

  • petiole

    Etymology The word petiole derives from the Latin word petiolus which means little

  • Piedmont

    Etymology The word Piedmont is derived from the Italian phrase piede del monte which

  • piepowder

    Etymology The word piepowder is derived from two Old French terms pied foot po

  • pilot

    Etymology The word pilot is derived from the Old Provençal word pilote which in tu

  • pinniped

    Etymology The word pinniped is derived from the Latin roots pinna fin and pes fo

  • pioneer

    Etymology and Origin of Pioneer Etymology ultimately from Old French pionier from t

  • platypus

    Etymology The word platypus is derived from the Greek words platys meaning flat

  • podium

    Etymology The word podium comes from the Greek word podion which means little foot

  • polyp

    Etymology The word polyp is derived from the Greek word polupous which means many

  • pseudopod

    Etymology Pseudo Greek false resembling Pod Greek foot Meaning A pseudopod is

  • quadruped

    Etymology Latin quadrupedēs quadrupedis four footed quadru from Latin quatt

  • sesquipedalian

    Etymology Latin sesquipedālis Origin sesqui 1 5 from semi half pedalis foot

  • stapes

    Etymology Greek stapes σταπές meaning stirrup Meaning The stapes is a

  • talipes

    Etymology Latin talus ankle pes foot Meaning Clubfoot Origin Talipe

  • tetrapod

    Etymology From Ancient Greek tetra τέτρα meaning four pod πους

  • Theropoda

    Etymology The term Theropoda is derived from the Greek words thero θήρ meani

  • trapezium

    Etymology The word trapezium comes from the Greek word trapezion which means littl

  • trapezoid

    Etymology The word trapezoid comes from the Greek words trapezium meaning little ta

  • tripod

    Etymology of Tripod The word tripod comes from the Ancient Greek tripodēs which

  • trivet

    Etymology The word trivet derives from the Old French term trevet which itself likely

  • velocipede

    Etymology and Meaning Velocipede noun A two wheeled or four wheeled vehicle propelled

  • clan

    Etymology The word clan is derived from the Scottish Gaelic word clann meaning chil

  • flan

    Etymology French flan Latin fladonem flat cake Meaning A custard tart made with

  • flat

    Etymology Old English flaett level ground plain Proto Germanic flatą flat pl

  • flat

    Etymology Old English flaett level ground plain Proto Germanic flatą flat pl

  • flatter

    Etymology The word flatter comes from the Old French word flater which itself derive

  • flounder

    Etymology Middle English flundre Old English flæȝndre flounder also a place name Pr

  • implant

    Etymology Latin implantāre to insert plant in Im in into plantare to

  • piazza

    Etymology The word piazza originates from the Italian word piazza which itself deriv

  • place

    Etymology The word place originates from the Latin word platea which means broad

  • plaice

    Etymology The word plaice comes from the Latin word platessa meaning flatfish M

  • plane

    Etymology The word plane has its origins in the Latin word planus which means flat

  • plant

    Etymology The word plant comes from the Latin word planta which means sole of the f

  • plantain

    Etymology The word plantain derives from the Latin word Plantago which is the genus

  • plantar

    Etymology The word plantar comes from the Latin word planta meaning the sole of the

  • plantation

    Etymology Old French plantation from Latin plantātiō from plantāre to plant

  • plantigrade

    Etymology Latin planta sole of the foot gradus step Meaning Animals that w

  • plat

    Etymology The word plat comes from the Middle French word plat meaning flat or sh

  • plate

    Etymology The word plate comes from the Old French word plate which is derived from

  • plateau

    Etymology of Plateau The word plateau comes from the French word plateau meaning

  • platen

    Etymology The word platen has two possible etymologies From the Greek platos flat

  • platform

    Etymology The word platform originates from the Old French term plateforme which in

  • platinum

    Etymology Origin Late Latin platīnum 1735 from Spanish platina 1557 diminutive o

  • platitude

    Etymology Latin plātitūdō plātitudinis from plātus flat broad wide French

  • Plattdeutsch

    Etymology The term Plattdeutsch is derived from Low German where platt means flat

  • platter

    Etymology Middle English plater platere from Old French plate from Late Latin pla

  • platypus

    Etymology The word platypus is derived from the Greek words platys meaning flat

  • plaza

    Etymology Plaza is derived from the Spanish word plaza which in turn is derived from

  • supplant

    Etymology Derived from Latin supplantare meaning to trip up undermine Sup mea

  • transplant

    Etymology of Transplant The word transplant comes from the Latin words trans mean

  • metronome

    Etymology The word metronome comes from the Greek words μέτρον metron measu

  • monotreme

    Etymology The term monotreme is derived from the Greek words monos meaning one and

  • Hollywood

    Etymology The word Hollywood is believed to have originated from two potential sources

  • malignant

    Etymology From Middle English malignant from Late Latin malignāns harmful mischiev

  • park

    Etymology Old English pearroc enclosure field pasture Proto Germanic parrak en

  • dwarf

    Etymology The word dwarf comes from the Old Norse word dvergr which is related to t

  • left

    Etymology The word left comes from the Old English word lyft meaning weak or wo

  • accommodate

    Etymology Latin accommodare meaning to adjust adapt conform Root commodus m

  • connotation

    Etymology From Late Latin connotatio from Latin connotare meaning to note together