Bdellodrilus

noun

Bdel·​lod·​ri·​lus

de-ˈlä-drə-ləs

: a genus of small leechlike oligochaete worms parasitic on the gills of crayfishes

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin, from Greek bdélla "leech" + New Latin drilus "earthworm" (sense extrapolated from Greek drîlos "penis with the foreskin withdrawn, circumcised penis")

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!