nautilus
nautilus Lexical Profile
nautilus Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A marine cephalopod mollusk native to the Indo-Pacific Ocean, characterized by a smooth, coiled shell divided into internal gas-filled chambers that provide buoyancy.
"The chambered nautilus has survived relatively unchanged for millions of years, earning it the title of a living fossil."
A pelagic octopus (the paper nautilus) whose female secretes a delicate, unchambered shell used as a brood chamber to protect her eggs.
"Ancient mariners often confused the true chambered nautilus with the paper nautilus due to their superficial similarities."
• Rhymes for nautilus
Word Origin & Etymology
From Latin 'nautilus', borrowed from Ancient Greek 'nautilos' meaning 'sailor', derived from 'naus' (ship). The term was originally applied by ancient writers to the paper nautilus (argonaut), which was mistakenly believed to use its webbed arms as sails to navigate the ocean surface.