Myriapod
/ˈmɪr.i.ə.pɒd/noun
A many-legged arthropod, such as a centipede or millipede.
Did you know?The name was coined in modern scientific Latin from Greek roots, and the same ancient root behind the first half of *myriapod* also gave English *myriad*, originally meaning ten thousand or an immense number.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
μυρίς (myris), μυριάς (myrias)
“ten thousand; countless number”
Modern Scientific Latin
Latin
Myriapoda
“a class of many-legged arthropods”
19th Century
English
myriapod
“a many-legged arthropod”
Modern English
English
myriapod
“a centipede, millipede, or related many-legged arthropod”