Standard Lemma guide

hectocotylus

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

A modified arm of any of several male cephalopods that functions as a reproductive organ by transferring sperm to the mantle of the female.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: biology, natural-sciences, zoology

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From New Latin, corresponding to hecto- + Ancient Greek κότυλος (kótulos, “small cup”).

Across languages

Translations

1 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Russian: гектокоти́ль (gektokotílʹ) — cephalopod limb and organ