Dinoflagellates
/ˌdaɪ.noʊˈflædʒ.ə.leɪts/noun
Microscopic mostly marine protists, many of which have two flagella and can produce bioluminescence or harmful algal blooms.
Did you know?The name combines Greek roots for “terrible” and “whip,” because the organisms’ two flagella were seen as whip-like moving parts, not because they were thought to be monsters.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
deinós
“terrible, fearful, powerful”
Ancient Greek
Greek
flagellum
“whip, lash”
Late 19th Century
New Latin
Dinoflagellata
“a taxonomic name for the whip-bearing microscopic organisms”
Modern English
English
dinoflagellates
“members of the dinoflagellate group of protists”