squid
squid
UK[skwɪd]US[skwɪd]
n
a sea creature with a long, soft body, eight arms, and two long tentacles, and that can send out a black liquid when in danger
n
the flesh of this creature eaten as food
Etymology
the origin of the word "squid" is obscure, first appearing in english in the late 16th or early 17th century. it is likely a sailors' slang term, perhaps influenced by the word "squirt" due to the creature's ability to eject ink, or possibly related to the dialectal word "squid" meaning "a narrow, pen-like fish." unlike many scientific terms derived from latin or greek, "squid" emerged from the vernacular language of those who encountered the animal directly. its simple, monosyllabic form reflects its practical, non-scholarly origins, and it has remained the common name for these cephalopods without a transparent internal morphological structure.
Analysis
this word is a simplex form. its origin is unknown, but it is likely a sailors' or fishermen's coinage with no clear morphemic breakdown in english.
Examples
the diver watched a squid jet away by propelling water through its siphon.
grilled squid with a squeeze of lemon is a popular dish in coastal regions.
the giant squid is one of the largest and most elusive creatures in the deep ocean.