Etymology

hectocotylus

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Today it means: A modified arm of any of several male cephalopods that functions as a reproductive organ by transferring sperm to the mantle of the female. Full definition →

First used 19th c.Ancient Greek κότυλος
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The story

  1. Ancient Greek · derived fromκότυλος“small cup”
  2. English todayhectocotylus

From New Latin, corresponding to hecto- + Ancient Greek κότυλος (kótulos, “small cup”).

First known use, by meaning

  • from 19th c. A modified arm of any of several male cephalopods that functions as a reproductive organ by transferring sperm to the mantle of the female.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.