gastropod

American  

[gas-truh-pod] / ˈgæs trəˌpɒd /

noun

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

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adjective

1. Also gastropodous belonging or pertaining to the gastropods.

gastropod British  

/ ɡæsˈtrɒpədən, ˈɡæstrəˌpɒd /

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

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adjective

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

gastropod Scientific  

/ 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.

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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).

Other Word Forms

• gastropodan adjective
• gastropodous adjective

Etymology

Origin of gastropod

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

Example Sentences

“Memoir of a Snail” is a strange stop-motion tragicomedy straight out of Dickens that’s not about a gastropod but the grim life of a grief-stricken snail enthusiast.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 8, 2025

"Our research is the first to demonstrate that these nematodes infect and kill a non-target gastropod species in the Northwest, which due to its rainy climate is a land slug and snail biodiversity hotspot."

From Science Daily • Mar. 21, 2024

The unusual gastropod was found by Prof Angus Davison, from the University of Nottingham, near to his home in the city.

From BBC • Oct. 31, 2023

The lovelorn gastropod had finally been able to mate with another left-sided snail, Tomeu, before he perished.

From The Guardian • Oct. 20, 2017

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

From The New Gresham Encyclopedia. Vol. 1 Part 2 Amiel to Atrauli by Various