See Also: Hectocotylus(medicine)
hectocotylus(dictionary)

hectocotylus (iou)



hectocotylus noun. . Also Anglicized as hectocotyl. M19.
[mod. Latin (see note below), formed as HECTO- + Greek kotule cup, hollow thing.]
Zoology. A modified arm in male dibranchiate cephalopods which is adapted for the transfer of sperm to the female, in some species becoming detached and remaining in the body of the female.
? Mod. Latin Hectocotylus was orig. proposed as a genus name by Cuvier in the mistaken belief that the detached structures were parasites.
hectocotyli'zation noun the process of forming a hectocotylus L19.
hectocotylize verb trans. (in pass.) become modified into a hectocotylus L19.