nautilus

[ nawt-l-uhs, not- ]

noun

, plural nau·ti·lus·es, nau·ti·li [nawt, -l-ahy, not, -]

1. Also called chambered nautilus, pearly nautilus. any cephalopod of the genus Nautilus, having a spiral, chambered shell with pearly septa.
2. paper nautilus.
3. (initial capital letter) the first nuclear-powered submarine launched by the U.S. Navy.

nautilus

/ ˈnɔːtɪləs /

noun

1. any cephalopod mollusc of the genus Nautilus, esp the pearly nautilus
2. short for paper nautilus

Word History and Origins

Origin of nautilus¹

1595–1605; < Latin < Greek nautílos paper nautilus, literally, sailor, derivative of naûs ship; the webbed dorsal arms of the paper nautilus were thought to have been used as sails

Word History and Origins

Origin of nautilus¹

C17: via Latin from Greek nautilos sailor, from naus ship

Example Sentences

The results suggest nautilus shells, orderly yet beguilingly sinuous.

From Washington Post

The storm had twisted the structure's metal roof like a nautilus shell and rolled it out into the street.

From Salon

“It actually drives me nuts that people call them ‘paper nautilus,’” Dr. Vecchione said.

From New York Times

Next to the glass, a small wooden bookshelf in the shape of a nautilus shell holds a curved spiral of librex.

From Literature

Her shapes can resemble a nautilus, an eyeball, lungs or a black hole, with delicate lines milling about.

From New York Times