platypus

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see also: Platypus

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Etymology

From nl. Platypus (originally a genus name already in use for a type of beetle), from Ancient Greek πλατύπους, from πλατύς ("flat") + πούς ("foot").

Pronunciation

• (RP) IPA: /ˈplætɪpəs/
• (America) IPA: /ˈplætɪˌpʊs/, IPA: /ˈplætɪpəs/

Noun

1. A semi-aquatic, egg-laying monotreme mammal with a bill resembling that of a duck, that has a mole-like body, a tail resembling that of a beaver, a waterproof pelt, and flat webbed feet – males have poisonous spurs on the inside of the back legs; Ornithorhynchus anatinus.

   Synonyms: duck-billed platypus, duckbill, duckmole, mallangong, tambreet, water mole

   • For more quotations using this term, see Citations:platypus.

Translations

• French: ornithorynque
• German: Schnabeltier
• Italian: ornitorinco, ornitorinchide
• Portuguese: ornitorrinco
• Russian: утконо́с
• Spanish: ornitorrinco

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Platypus

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Etymology

From Ancient Greek πλατύπους, from πλατύς ("flat") + πούς ("foot").

Proper noun

1. A taxonomic genus within the family Curculionidae – certain weevils.

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