Platypus

Pronunciation

Origin

From Medieval Latin Platypus (originally a genus name, but already used for a type of beetle), from Ancient Greek πλατύπους (platypous, "flat-footed"), from πλατύς (platys, "flat") + πούς (pous, "foot").

Noun

noun

1. An egg-laying, semi-aquatic mammal with a bill resembling that of a duck, that has a mole-like body, a tail resembling that of a beaver, a waterproof pelt, and flat webbed feet — males have poisonous spurs on the inside of the back legs; Ornithorhynchus anatinus
• 2008, March 2, Captive platypus twins make history, Victoria's Healesville Sanctuary is celebrating the births of two baby platypuses, in a major milestone.

Synonyms

• duck-billed platypus
• duckbill
• duckmole
• watermole

Derived terms

• platypusary
• platypussary