Alectryon

/æ.lɛkˈtri.ən/ noun

Definition

Ancient Greek or Latin variant of alectrion; a genus name for rooster-like organisms, particularly certain gastropod mollusks.

Etymology

From Greek 'alektryon' (rooster), used as a direct scientific name with minimal modification from the original Greek word.

Kelly Says

The word 'alectryon' shows how scientists borrowed Greek animal names directly—they didn't invent new words, they just adopted the ones Greeks used 2,500 years ago.

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