peripatus

noun pe·rip·a·tus \pə-ˈri-pə-təs\

Definition of PERIPATUS

: any of a class or phylum (Onychophora) of primitive tropical wormlike invertebrates that appear intermediate between annelid worms and arthropods

New Latin, genus name, from Greek peripatos act of walking about, from peri- + patein to tread

First Known Use: circa 1931

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