paper nautilus

noun

1. any dibranchiate cephalopod of the genus Argonauta, the female of which has a delicate, white shell.

paper nautilus

noun

1. any cephalopod mollusc of the genus Argonauta, esp A. argo, of warm and tropical seas, having a papery external spiral shell: order Octopoda (octopods) Also calledargonaut Compare pearly nautilus

Word History and Origins

Origin of paper nautilus¹

First recorded in 1825–35

Example Sentences

The argonaut, or paper-nautilus, must be carefully distinguished from the pearly-nautilus or nautilus proper (Nautilus Pompilius).

From Project Gutenberg

I here also saw numbers of the paper nautilus floating on the calm surface of the water.

From Project Gutenberg

It is often found attached to the shell of the Paper Nautilus, which it is said to use as a sail.

From Project Gutenberg

The paper-nautilus (Argonauta argo) belongs to a different family of the same class, and has a simple, delicate, boat-like shell.

From Project Gutenberg

We need not trouble ourselves about the distinction between this and the Paper Nautilus, the Argonauta of the ancients.

From Project Gutenberg