scolopendra

noun

scol·​o·​pen·​dra ˌskä-lə-ˈpen-drə How to pronounce scolopendra (audio)
: centipede

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin, a genus of tropical centipedes, going back to Latin, "a kind of venomous centipede," borrowed from Greek skolópendra "millipede," probably of pre-Greek substratal origin

Note: The genus was initiated by linnaeus in Systema naturae, tenth edition (Stockholm, 1758), tomus I, p. 637.

First Known Use

1608, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of scolopendra was in 1608

Dictionary Entries Near scolopendra

Scolopax

scolopendra

Scolopendrella

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Scolopendra.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scolopendra. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.

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