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Added 10 October 2026

platypus

/ˈplætɪpəs/ noun

In Latin: ornithorhynchus, platypūs Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about platypus at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Small densely furred aquatic monotreme of Australia and Tasmania having a broad bill and tail and webbed feet; only species in the family Ornithorhynchidae.

Origin

From New Latin Platypus (originally a genus name already in use for a type of beetle), from Ancient Greek πλατύπους (platúpous, “flat-footed”), from πλατύς (platús, “flat”) + πούς (poús, “foot”). Piecewise doublet of flatfoot.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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