Jellyfish
/ˈdʒɛliˌfɪʃ/noun
A soft-bodied marine animal with a gelatinous bell and trailing tentacles.
Did you know?Despite the name, jellyfish are not fish at all; the word is a relatively modern English folk label for a creature whose translucent body made it look like sea jelly to English speakers.
Etymological Timeline
Old French
OF
gelee
“frozen or congealed substance; jelly”
Middle English
ME
jely
“a soft, congealed food substance”
17th Century
English
jelly
“a clear, semisolid, fruit-flavored preserve or congealed mass”
19th Century
English
jelly fish
“a gelatinous marine creature, named for its resemblance to jelly”
Modern English
English
jellyfish
“a gelatinous marine animal with stinging tentacles”
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