gastropod

[ gas-truh-pod ]

noun

1. any mollusk of the class Gastropoda, comprising the snails, whelks, slugs, etc.

adjective

1. Also gas·trop·o·dous [] belonging or pertaining to the gastropods.

gastropod

/ ˈɡæstrəˌpɒd; ɡæsˈtrɒpədən /

noun

1. any mollusc of the class Gastropoda, typically having a flattened muscular foot for locomotion and a head that bears stalked eyes. The class includes the snails, whelks, limpets, and slugs

adjective

1. of, relating to, or belonging to the Gastropoda

gastropod

/ găs′trə-pŏd′ /

1. Any of various carnivorous or herbivorous mollusks of the class Gastropoda, having a head with eyes and feelers and a muscular foot on the underside of its body with which it moves. Most gastropods are aquatic, but some have adapted to life on land. Gastropods include snails, which have a coiled shell, and slugs, which have a greatly reduced shell or none at all.

Derived Forms

• gasˈtropodous, adjective
• gastropodan, adjectivenoun

Word History and Origins

Origin of gastropod¹

First recorded in 1820–30, gastropod is from the New Latin word Gast(e)ropoda a class of mollusks. See gastro-, -pod

Word History

Snails, conchs, whelks, and many other similar animals with shells are all called gastropods by scientists. The word gastropod comes from Greek and means “stomach foot,” a name that owes its existence to the unusual anatomy of snails. Snails have a broad flat muscular “foot” used for support and for forward movement. This foot runs along the underside of the animal—essentially along its belly. The Greek elements gastro–, “stomach,” and –pod, “foot,” are found in many other scientific names, such as gastritis (an inflammation of the stomach) and sauropod (“lizard foot,” a type of dinosaur).

Example Sentences

A geologic survey of sediments near the mangroves revealed “exactly what we expected,” he says, including coastal gravels, shells of marine gastropods, clay sediments rich in shell fragments, coastal dunes and large oyster shells.

From Science News

The problem of the causes of the torsion of the Gastropod body has been much discussed.

From Project Gutenberg

G, The acrecbolic snout of a proboscidiferous Gastropod, arrested short of complete eversion by the fibrous band b.

From Project Gutenberg

One of the prettiest of the gastropod shells, is that of the cowry, in some parts of Africa used as money.

From Project Gutenberg

The name arises from confusion with a coiled gastropod, which was held to resemble the horns of the Egyptian deity Jupiter Ammon.

From Project Gutenberg