ancylostomum
|an-cy-los-to-mum|
C2
/ˌænsɪˈlɒstəməm/
curved-mouthed parasitic worm
Etymology
Etymology Information
'ancylostomum' originates from Greek, specifically the words 'ankylos' meaning 'curved' and 'stoma' meaning 'mouth', referring to the curved mouthparts of the worm.
Historical Evolution
'ancylostomum' was adopted into scientific Latin from Greek roots and has been used in taxonomy to describe this genus of hookworms.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it referred specifically to the curved mouth of the organism, but over time it became the scientific name for the entire genus of hookworms.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a genus of parasitic hookworms that infect the intestines of mammals, especially humans and dogs.
Ancylostomum can cause anemia in infected hosts.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/08/02 10:21