chaetognath

[ kee-tog-nath, -tuhg- ]

noun

1. any animal of the phylum Chaetognatha, comprising the arrowworms.

adjective

1. Also chae·tog·na·than [] chae·togna·thous. belonging or pertaining to the Chaetognatha.

chaetognath

/ ˈkiːtɒɡˌnæθ /

noun

1. any small wormlike marine invertebrate of the phylum Chaetognatha, including the arrowworms, having a coelom and a ring of bristles around the mouth

chaetognath

/ kē′tŏg-năth′ /

1. Any of various small, wormlike marine invertebrates of the phylum Chaetognatha, having often transparent or translucent bodies that are pointed at one end. The head has small hooks for grasping prey, and it contains a large cerebral ganglion of sensory nerves. Chaetognaths are popularly called arrowworms, and are thought to be related to the echinoderms and chordates.

Word History and Origins

Origin of chaetognath¹

1885–90; < New Latin Chaetognatha, neuter plural of chaetognathus; chaeto-, -gnathous

Word History and Origins

Origin of chaetognath¹

C19: New Latin Chaetognatha, literally: hair-jaw, from chaeta + Greek gnathos jaw