hectocotylus
[ hek-tuh-kot-l-uh s ]
/ ˌhɛk təˈkɒt l əs /
noun, plural hec·to·cot·y·li [hek-tuh-kot-l-ahy] /ˌhɛk təˈkɒt lˌaɪ/. Zoology.
a modified arm of the male of certain cephalopods that is used to transfer sperm to the female.
Origin of hectocotylus
Words nearby hectocotylus
heckuva,
hect-,
hectare,
hectic,
hecto-,
hectocotylus,
hectogram,
hectograph,
hectoliter,
hectolitre,
hectometer
Example sentences from the Web for hectocotylus
Arms long and equal, without membrane; hectocotylus not autotomous.
Hectocotylus autotomous; arms unequal in size; aquiferous pores on head and funnel.
British Dictionary definitions for hectocotylus
hectocotylus
/ (ˌhɛktəʊˈkɒtɪləs) /
noun plural -li (-ˌlaɪ)
a tentacle in certain male cephalopod molluscs, such as the octopus, that is specialized for transferring spermatozoa to the female
Word Origin for hectocotylus
C19: New Latin, from
hecto- + Greek
kotulē cup