limaçon

noun

li·ma·çon ˌlē-mə-ˈsōⁿ

: a plane curve whose equation in polar coordinates has one of the forms ρ = a cos θ ± b or ρ = a sin θ ± b and which reduces to a cardioid when a = b

Word History

Etymology

French, literally, snail, from Old French, diminutive of limaz slug, snail, from Latin limax; akin to Russian slimak snail and probably to Old English līm birdlime — more at lime

First Known Use

1873, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of limaçon was in 1873

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