platypus

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See also: Platypus

English

A platypus

Etymology

From New Latin Platypus (originally a genus name already in use for a type of beetle), from Ancient Greek πλατύπους (platúpous, flat-footed), from πλατύς (platús, flat) + πούς (poús, foot). Piecewise doublet of flatfoot.

Pronunciation

Noun

platypus (plural platypuses or platypus or (common, hypercorrect) platypi or (rare) platypodes)

  1. A semi-aquatic, egg-laying monotreme mammal with a bill resembling that of a duck, that has a mole-like body, a tail resembling that of a beaver, a waterproof pelt, and flat webbed feet – males have poisonous spurs on the inside of the back legs; Ornithorhynchus anatinus.
    Synonyms: duck-billed platypus, duckbill, duckmole, mallangong, tambreet, water mole
    • 2008 March 2, “Captive platypus twins make history”, in ABC News:
      Victoria's Healesville Sanctuary is celebrating the births of two baby platypuses, in a major milestone.
    • For more quotations using this term, see Citations:platypus.

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