millipede
noun
mil·li·pede ˈmi-lə-ˌpēd 
: any of a class (Diplopoda) of myriapod arthropods having usually a cylindrical segmented body covered with hard integument, two pairs of legs on most apparent segments, and unlike centipedes no poison fangs
Did you know?
The earth is home to about 10,000 species of millipedes. Though they have no poison fangs, many of them can, when threatened, emit a liquid or gas poisonous to their enemies. If their structure were true to their name, millipedes would have a thousand legs, but in fact they have far fewer. Even so, a millipede in motion is a sight to ponder: How can it possibly coordinate all those legs so that it doesn't trip over itself? Like some tiny conga line or bunny hop, it scuttles away to a rhythm only it can hear.
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Imagine a giant millipede crawling along the jungle floor with a leggy, eight-foot-long body. 
Tim Newcomb, Popular Mechanics, 6 July 2022 Taylor Swift can add a new honor to her overflowing cabinet of accolades: A new species of millipede from the Appalachian Mountains has been named after her, according to Phys.org. Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 18 Apr. 2022 There is now a species of millipede named after Swift. Fred Sahai, Billboard, 18 Apr. 2022 By referencing related fossils’ body proportions, the team estimates this millipede would have weighed 50 kilograms and measured 2.6 meters long. Nikk Ogasa, Scientific American, 23 Feb. 2022 Until recently, scientists had only found a millipede with around 750 legs. Corryn Wetzel, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 Dec. 2021 Researchers in Australia announced the discovery of the first true millipede, with 1,306 legs. Rafil Kroll-zaidi, Harper’s Magazine , 16 Feb. 2022 The Californian millipede species, Illacme plenipes, has up to 750 legs. Katie Hunt, CNN, 16 Dec. 2021 Based on what previous research found on related species, this millipede may stick its beak into fungi to slurp up their innards. ABC News, 19 Dec. 2021 See More
Tim Newcomb, Popular Mechanics, 6 July 2022 Taylor Swift can add a new honor to her overflowing cabinet of accolades: A new species of millipede from the Appalachian Mountains has been named after her, according to Phys.org. Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 18 Apr. 2022 There is now a species of millipede named after Swift. Fred Sahai, Billboard, 18 Apr. 2022 By referencing related fossils’ body proportions, the team estimates this millipede would have weighed 50 kilograms and measured 2.6 meters long. Nikk Ogasa, Scientific American, 23 Feb. 2022 Until recently, scientists had only found a millipede with around 750 legs. Corryn Wetzel, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 Dec. 2021 Researchers in Australia announced the discovery of the first true millipede, with 1,306 legs. Rafil Kroll-zaidi, Harper’s Magazine , 16 Feb. 2022 The Californian millipede species, Illacme plenipes, has up to 750 legs. Katie Hunt, CNN, 16 Dec. 2021 Based on what previous research found on related species, this millipede may stick its beak into fungi to slurp up their innards. ABC News, 19 Dec. 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
Latin millepeda, a small crawling animal, from mille thousand + ped-, pes foot — more at foot
First Known Use
1601, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
millipede
noun
mil·li·pede ˈmi-lə-ˌpēd
: an animal that is an arthropod with a long roundish body somewhat like that of a centipede but with two pairs of legs on most of its many body sections
Medical Definition
millipede
noun
mil·li·pede ˈmil-ə-ˌpēd
: any of a class (Diplopoda) of arthropods having usually a cylindrical segmented body, two pairs of legs on most segments, and including some forms that secrete toxic substances causing skin irritation but that unlike centipedes possess no poison fangs