onychophoran

[ on-i-kof-er-uh n ]
/ ˌɒn ɪˈkɒf ər ən /

noun

any small, predatory, caterpillarlike animal of the phylum Onychophora, common in tropical forests, having stubby legs ending in pincers.

Origin of onychophoran

1885–90; < New Latin Onychophor(a) phylum name (< Greek onycho-, combining form of ónyx; see onyx) + New Latin -phora, neuter plural of -phorus -phore + -an

Words nearby onychophoran

onychomycosis, onychoosteodysplasia, onychopathy, onychophagia, onychophagy, onychophoran, onychoplasty, onychorrhexis, onychoschizia, onychosis, onychotillomania

British Dictionary definitions for onychophoran

onychophoran
/ (ˌɒnɪˈkɒfərən) /

noun

any wormlike terrestrial invertebrate of the phylum Onychophora, having a segmented body, short unjointed limbs, and breathing by means of tracheae: intermediate in structure and evolutionary development between annelids and arthropods

Word Origin for onychophoran

from New Latin Onychophora, from Greek onukh- nail, claw + -phore