polypus

The story

1. Ancient Greek · derived fromπολύπους
2. Latin · borrowed frompolypus
3. English todaypolypus

From Latin polypus, from Ancient Greek πολύπους (polúpous). Doublet of polyp.

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• from 14th c. A polyp.
• from 17th c. A cardiac thrombus usually found post-mortem.
• 16th–19th c. A tentacled cephalopod, such as an octopus, squid, or cuttlefish.
• from 18th c. Any of various simple aquatic invertebrates having mouths surrounded by tentacles, including hydrozoa and anthozoa; including the sessile life stages of organisms whose corresponding free-swimming stage is the medusa.