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nautilus

[ nawt-l-uhs, not- ]

noun

plural nautiluses, nautili
  1. Also called chambered nautilus, pearly nautilus. any cephalopod of the genus Nautilus, having a spiral, chambered shell with pearly septa.
  2. (initial capital letter) the first nuclear-powered submarine launched by the U.S. Navy.


nautilus

/ ˈɔːɪə /

noun

  1. any cephalopod mollusc of the genus Nautilus, esp the pearly nautilus
  2. short for paper nautilus
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Word History and Origins

Origin of nautilus1

1595–1605; < Latin < Greek ԲܳíDz paper nautilus, literally, sailor, derivative of Բû ship; the webbed dorsal arms of the paper nautilus were thought to have been used as sails
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Word History and Origins

Origin of nautilus1

C17: via Latin from Greek nautilos sailor, from naus ship

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nautiloidnautophone