malacostracan

[ mal-uh-kos-truh-kuh n ]
/ ˌmæl əˈkɒs trə kən /

adjective

belonging or pertaining to the crustacean subclass Malacostraca, which includes the lobsters, shrimps, crabs, etc.

noun

a malacostracan crustacean.

Origin of malacostracan

1825–35; < New Latin Malacostrac(a) order of crustacea (< Greek, neuter plural of malakóstrakos soft-shelled, equivalent to malak- malaco- + -ostrakos, adj. derivative of óstrakon shell (of mollusks, etc.); cf. ostracize) + -an

Words nearby malacostracan

malacophily, malacophyllous, malacoplakia, malacopterygian, malacosis, malacostracan, malacotic, maladaptation, maladapted, maladaptive, maladdress

Example sentences from the Web for malacostracan

British Dictionary definitions for malacostracan

malacostracan
/ (ˌmæləˈkɒstrəkən) /

noun

any crustacean of the subclass or group Malacostraca, including lobsters, crabs, woodlice, sand hoppers, and opossum shrimps

adjective Also: malacostracous

of, relating to, or belonging to the Malacostraca

Word Origin for malacostracan

C19: from New Latin, from Greek malakōstrakos, from malaco- + ostrakon shell