copepod
UK[ˈkəʊpɪpɒd]US[ˈkoʊpɪpɑːd]
n
A tiny crustacean with an ovoid body and a single median eye, abundant in plankton and freshwater.
Morpheme Breakdown
cope
pod
cope
oar
pod
foot
Etymology
The term 'copepod' is a modern scientific Latin construction from the 19th century, directly combining Greek elements. The first part, 'kōpē', originally referred to the handle of an oar, and by extension came to mean 'oar' itself. The second part, 'podos', is the genitive of 'pous', meaning 'foot'. The name was chosen descriptively, as many copepods possess long, oar-like antennae and swimming legs which they use for propulsion, making them appear as if they are 'rowing with their feet'. This literal imagery of 'oar-footed' creatures accurately captures their distinctive locomotion in aquatic environments.
Analysis
Structure: cope (oar) + pod (foot)
'cope' from Greek 'kōpē', meaning 'oar' or 'handle'. 'pod' from Greek 'pous' (genitive 'podos'), meaning 'foot'.
Examples
The copepod is a crucial link in the marine food web.
Under the microscope, we observed a diverse community of copepods.
Fish larvae often feed on these tiny copepods.