Etymology

platypus

pla·ty·pus
P3L1A1T1Y4P3U1S1

Today it means: A semiaquatic monotreme from eastern Australia 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 (Ornithorhynchus anatinus). Full definition →

New Latin Platypus ← Ancient Greek πλατύπους
Ask AI about its historyChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

The story

  1. Ancient Greek · derived fromπλατύπους“flat-footed”
  2. New Latin · derived fromPlatypus
  3. English todayplatypus

From New Latin Platypus (originally a genus name already in use for a type of beetle), from Ancient Greek πλατύπους (platúpous, “flat-footed”), from πλατύς (platús, “flat”) + πούς (poús, “foot”). Piecewise doublet of flatfoot.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.