Meanings
plural phasmids
- biologyAny insect of the order Phasmida: a leaf insect or walking stick (stick insect).First known use 19th c.
A giant phasmid (or stick insect) from India whose cage was over two metres tall spent long hours standing upon a perpendicular branch and staring into Mother's eyes.
1993, Rikki Ducornet, The Jade Cabinet, Dalkey Archive Press, page 19 - A phagemid.
Synonyms & antonyms
nounlarge cylindrical or flattened mostly tropical insects with long strong legs that feed on plants; walking sticks and leaf insects
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Ancient Greekφάσμα“apparition, phantom”
- Englishphasmid
From Latin phasma (“apparition, specter, phantom”) + -id (nominal suffix), from Ancient Greek φάσμα (phásma, “apparition, phantom”).
More words from Ancient Greek
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Polish patyczak, straszyk
- patyczakan insect
- straszykan insect
Portuguese fasmídeo
- fasmídeoan insect
Spanish fásmido
- fásmidoan insect
Rhymes & wordplay
Rhymes with phasmid
All rhymes →Anagrams
Cite this entry
phasmid. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/phasmid
“phasmid.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/phasmid. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “phasmid,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/phasmid.
Source: phasmid on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.