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xiph·o·su·ran

(zĭf′ə-srən)

Any of various arthropods of the order Xiphosura, having a long pointed telson extending from the rear of the abdomen. The order includes the horseshoe crabs and many extinct species.

[From New Latin Xiphosūra, order name : Greek xiphos, sword + Greek ourā, tail; see ors- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

xiph′o·suran adj.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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