acanthocephalan

noun

acan·​tho·​ceph·​a·​lan ə-ˌkan(t)-thə-ˈse-fə-lən 

: spiny-headed worm

acanthocephalan adjective

Word History

Etymology

New Latin Acanthocephala, taxon that includes the spiny-headed worms (from Greek ákantha "thorn, prickle, spine" + New Latin -o- -o- + -cephala, neuter plural of -cephalus "having a head of a given sort," borrowed from Greek -kephalos, derivative of kephalḗ "head") + -an entry 1 — more at acanthus, cephalic

First Known Use

circa 1889, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

acanthocephalan

noun

acan·​tho·​ceph·​a·​lan -lən 

: any of the phylum Acanthocephala of unsegmented parasitic worms

called also spiny-headed worm

acanthocephalan adjective