cycad
UK[ˈsaɪkæd]US[ˈsaɪkæd]
n
A type of ancient, slow-growing, evergreen plant with a thick trunk and a crown of large, stiff, feathery leaves, resembling a palm or tree fern.
Morpheme Breakdown
cycad
cycad
Etymology
The word 'cycad' is a modern botanical term, coined in the early 19th century. It originates from the Neo-Latin genus name Cycas, which itself was adapted from the Greek word kykas, a name used by ancient Greek naturalist Theophrastus for a type of palm. The Greek term is believed to be a scribal error or variant of koïkas, possibly derived from an Egyptian word for a palm-like plant. Thus, the term represents a direct scientific borrowing, its form preserved intact from its classical source to label this living fossil of the plant kingdom.
Analysis
Structure: cycad
This word is a simplex form. It is a modern scientific name derived from a genus name.
Examples
The cycad is often mistaken for a palm tree due to its similar appearance.
Fossil records show that cycads were abundant during the age of the dinosaurs.
This botanical garden has a remarkable collection of rare cycad species.