rhoptry

R1H4O1P3T1R1Y4

noun

A specialized secretory organelle in some protozoans

OriginAncient Greek ῥόπαλον →
Scrabble 15
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Meanings

nounrhoptry (plural rhoptries)

plural rhoptries

  1. A specialized secretory organelle in some protozoans

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekῥόπαλον“club”
  2. Englishrhoptry

From Ancient Greek ῥόπαλον (rhópalon, “club”) or a cognate of it, reflecting the bulbous shape of the organelle.

More words from Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

rhoptry. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/rhoptry

MLA

“rhoptry.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/rhoptry. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “rhoptry,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/rhoptry.

Source: rhoptry on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.