millipede

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   an elongated terrestrial arthropod of the class Diplopoda, with most apparent body segments bearing two pairs of legs

   The millipede curled into a tight spiral when it was disturbed.

From Latin millipeda, 'wood louse,' formed from mille, 'thousand,' and pes, pedis, 'foot.' The name is descriptive rather than a literal claim that every millipede has exactly one thousand legs.

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