paper nautilus

paper nautilus
Argonauta Ar`go*nau"ta, n. (Zo["o]l.) A genus of Cephalopoda. The shell is called {paper nautilus} or {paper sailor}. [1913 Webster]

Note: The animal has much resemblance to an Octopus. It has eight arms, two of which are expanded at the end and clasp the shell, but are never elevated in the air for sails as was formerly supposed. The creature swims beneath the surface by means of a jet of water, like other cephalopods. The male has no shell, and is much smaller than the female. See {Hectocotylus}. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • paper nautilus — Nautilus Nau ti*lus, n.; pl. E. {Nautiluses}, L. {Nautili}. [L., fr. Gr. nayti los a seaman, sailor, a kind of shellfish which was supposed to be furnished with a membrane which served as a sail; fr. nay^s ship. See {Nave} of a church.] 1. (Zo[… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Paper nautilus — Paper Pa per (p[=a] p[ e]r), n. [F. papier, fr. L. papyrus papyrus, from which the Egyptians made a kind of paper, Gr. pa pyros. Cf. {Papyrus}.] 1. A substance in the form of thin sheets or leaves intended to be written or printed on, or to be… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • paper nautilus — n. 1. any of a genus (Argonauta) of small, squidlike octopods: the female secretes a large, frail, paperlike shell to protect her eggs until they hatch; argonaut 2. this shell …   English World dictionary

  • paper nautilus — noun cephalopod mollusk of warm seas whose females have delicate papery spiral shells • Syn: ↑nautilus, ↑Argonaut, ↑Argonauta argo • Hypernyms: ↑octopod • Member Holonyms: ↑Argonauta, ↑genus Arg …   Useful english dictionary

  • paper nautilus — noun A pelagic octopus of genus Argonauta, found in warm seas, whose females produce a paper thin egg case resembling a shell into which she deposits her eggs. Syn: argonaut …   Wiktionary

  • paper nautilus — noun Date: 1835 a pelagic cephalopod (genus Argonauta) of which the female has a delicate papery shell …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • paper nautilus — any dibranchiate cephalopod of the genus Argonauta, the female of which has a delicate, white shell. [1825 35] * * * …   Universalium

  • paper nautilus — noun a small floating octopus, the female of which secretes a thin coiled papery shell in which its eggs are laid. [Genus Argonauta.] …   English new terms dictionary

  • paper nautilus — pa′per nau′tilus n. ivt any swimming octopod mollusk of the genus Argonauta: the female produces a delicate shell into which she lays her eggs • Etymology: 1825–35 …   From formal English to slang

  • paper nautilus — /peɪpə ˈnɔtələs/ (say paypuh nawtuhluhs) noun any dibranchiate cephalopod of the genus Argonauta, characterised by the delicate shell of the female; argonaut …  

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