Chordate
/ˈkɔːr.deɪt/noun
An animal belonging to the phylum Chordata, characterized at some stage of development by a notochord, dorsal nerve cord, and related structures.
Did you know?The name ultimately refers to a cord-like supporting structure—the notochord—which appears in human embryos before being largely replaced by the vertebral column.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
χορδή (khordḗ)
“String, gut, or cord—especially a string made from animal intestine”
Classical Latin
Latin
chorda
“String, cord, or catgut”
13th Century
Old French
corde
“Cord, rope, or string, inherited from Latin chorda”
15th Century
English
cord
“A thick string, rope, or anatomical band”
19th Century
New Latin
Chordata
“The biological group named for its characteristic notochord, a flexible internal supporting rod”
1880s
English
chordate
“An animal belonging to the phylum Chordata”