aegagropila

noun

ae·​ga·​grop·​i·​la
ˌē-gə-ˈgrä-pə-lə
1
or less commonly aegagropile or egagropile
ē-ˈga-grō-ˌpīl
 plural aegagropilas or aegagropilae
ˌē-gə-ˈgrä-pə-ˌlē
 also aegagropiles or egagropiles : a ball of hair or a concretion found in the stomach of the goat and other ruminants
2
plural aegagropilas or aegagropilae : a ball-shaped mass of hairlike filaments formed by some algae (as certain species of the genus Cladophora)
3
capitalized in some classifications : a genus of algae comprising all forms forming aegagropilas
aegagropilous
¦ē-gə-¦grä-pə-ləs
adjective

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Greek aigagros + Latin pila ball, from pilus hair

First Known Use

1699, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of aegagropila was in 1699

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Dictionary Entries Near aegagropila

AEF

aegagropila

aegagrus

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Aegagropila.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aegagropila. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

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