acanthocephalan

noun acan·tho·ceph·a·lan \ə-ˌkan(t)-thə-ˈse-fə-lən\

Definition of ACANTHOCEPHALAN

— acanthocephalan adjective

ultimately from Greek akantha thorn, spine + kephalē head — more at cephalic

First Known Use: circa 1889

Medical Dictionary

noun acan·tho·ceph·a·lan \-lən\

: any of the phylum Acanthocephala of unsegmented parasitic worms—called also spiny-headed worm

—acanthocephalan adjective

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