apus
1 of 4noun (1)
"
plural apuses
-əsə̇z
or apodes ˈapəˌdēz
: a crustacean of the genus Triops certain tropical forms of which are destructive pests of young rice
Apus
2 of 4noun (2)
ˈā-pəs 
ˈä-
: a genus of birds containing the typical Old World swifts
Apus
3 of 4 ˈā-pəs
ˈä-
taxonomic synonym of triops
Apus
4 of 4noun
ˈā-pəs
astronomy
: a faint constellation visible near the south celestial pole that is represented by the figure of a bird of paradise
Unfortunately, Apus is a latter-day construct, conjured by Dutch navigators around the turn of the 17th century and not imagined (or even seen) by ancient Greek herders.
Jesse Cohen, Los Angeles Times, 21 Sept. 2007
Jesse Cohen, Los Angeles Times, 21 Sept. 2007
Word History
Etymology
Noun (1)
New Latin Apus entry 2
Noun (2)
New Latin, from Latin apod-, apus swallow supposed to be footless, from Greek apod-, apous sand-martin, swift, from apod-, apous footless, from a- a- entry 2 + pod-, pous foot
New Latin, from Greek apod-, apous footless
First Known Use
Noun (2)
1774, in the meaning defined above
Noun
1702, in the meaning defined above