myriapod

or myr·i·o·pod

[ mir-ee-uh-pod ]

noun

1. any arthropod of the group Myriapoda, having an elongated segmented body with numerous paired, jointed legs, formerly classified as a class comprising the centipedes and millipedes.

adjective

1. Also myr·i·ap·o·dous [] belonging or pertaining to the myriapods.
2. having very numerous legs.

myriapod

/ ˈmɪrɪəˌpɒd; ˌmɪrɪˈæpədən /

noun

1. any terrestrial arthropod of the group Myriapoda, having a long segmented body and many walking limbs: includes the centipedes and millipedes

adjective

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

myriapod

/ mĭr′ē-ə-pŏd′ /

1. Any of various arthropods belonging to several closely related groups, having long segmented bodies, one pair of antennae, and at least nine pairs of legs. Centipedes and millipedes are myriapods.

Derived Forms

• ˌmyriˈapodous, adjective
• myriapodan, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of myriapod¹

From the New Latin word Myriapoda, dating back to 1820–30. See myria-, -pod

Word History and Origins

Origin of myriapod¹

C19: from New Latin Myriapoda. See myriad , -pod

Example Sentences

Their lack of vision doesn’t make the myriapods any less dangerous.

From Science Magazine

The forest’s primary occupants were millipede-like creatures, called myriapods, and some other primitive insects that may or may not have begun to fly.

From The Guardian

Hannah Wood, curator of arachnids and myriapods at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History, authored a new paper in the journal Zookeys describing 18 new species of pelican spider from Madagascar.

From National Geographic

Once back in Washington, I e-mailed Jonathan Coddington, curator of arachnids and myriapods at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History.

From Washington Post

Index to the known fossil insects of the world including myriapods and arachnids.

From Project Gutenberg