Malacostraca

plural noun

Mal·​a·​cos·​tra·​ca
ˌmaləˈkästrəkə
: a major subclass of Crustacea including most of the well-known marine, freshwater, and terrestrial members of the group (as lobsters, crabs, shrimps, sow bugs, beach fleas)
malacostracan
¦⸗⸗¦kästrəkən How to pronounce Malacostraca (audio)
adjective or noun
malacostracous
-kəs
adjective

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Greek malakostraka, neuter plural of malakostrakos soft-shelled, from malak- malac- + -ostrakos (from ostrakon shell)

First Known Use

1819, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Malacostraca was in 1819

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Dictionary Entries Near Malacostraca

Malacosoma

Malacostraca

malacostracan

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Malacostraca.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Malacostraca. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

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