Definition of Platypus

1. Noun. Small densely furred aquatic monotreme of Australia and Tasmania having a broad bill and tail and webbed feet; only species in the family Ornithorhynchidae.


Definition of Platypus

1. n. The duck mole. See under Duck.

Definition of Platypus

1. Noun. An egg-laying, semi-aquatic mammal with a bill resembling that of a duck, that has a mole-like body, a tail resembling that of a beaver, a waterproof pelt, and flat webbed feet — males have poisonous spurs on the inside of the back legs; ''Ornithorhynchus anatinus'' ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Platypus

1. an aquatic mammal [n -PUSES or -PI]

Medical Definition of Platypus

1. The duck mole. See Duck. Origin: NL, fr. Gr. + foot. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Platypus

platymeters
platymorphia
platyopia
platyopic
platypellic
platypellic pelvis
platypelloid
platypelloid pelvis
platypi
platypnea
platypneas
platypod
platypoda
platypodes
platyptera
platypus (current term)
platypusaries
platypusary
platypuses
platypussaries
platypussary
platyrhine
platyrhini
platyrhinian
platyrrhine
platyrrhines
platyrrhinian
platyrrhinic
platyrrhiny
platys

Literary usage of Platypus

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Catalogue of Carnivorous, Pachydermatous, and Edentate Mammalia in the by John Edward Gray (1869)
"platypus. Head depressed. Body covered with fur. Feet expanded, webbed. 2. ECHIDNA. ... platypus anatinus, Shaw, Nat. Misc. t. 385; Gen. Zool. ip 229, t. ..."

2. New Homes for the Old Country: A Personal Experience of the Political and by George Smyth Baden-Powell (1872)
"7E now leave the fish, and bring our thoughts * * to the consideration of two most remarkable beasts, the platypus and the "Porcupine. ..."

3. Australasia by Henry Rees (1907)
"They include two chief genera, Ornitho- rhynchus, the' famous duck - billed platypus, and the Echidna or spiny ant-eater. The platypus or " water- duck ..."

4. Zoography: Or, The Beauties of Nature Displayed. In Select Descriptions from by William Wood (1807)
"THE DUCK-BILLED platypus. Naturalists' Miscellany, pi. 385. Shaw Gen. Zool. v. 1. p. 228. pi. 66. NATURALISTS received this animal with the utmost caution ..."

5. A History of the Earth, and Animated Nature by Oliver Goldsmith (1823)
"[THE platypus. THE Duck-billed platypus was first noticed by Dr Shaw, in his Naturalist's Miscellany; but as the animal there described was the only one ..."

6. Natural History of the World: With Anecdotes Illustrating the Nature, Habits edited by Alfred Henry Miles (1895)
"The Duck-billed platypus belongs to the former, the Australian Hedgehog ... The The Duck-billed platypus is one if the most Duck,billed singular of animals. ..."

7. Catalogue of Carnivorous, Pachydermatous, and Edentate Mammalia in the by John Edward Gray (1869)
"platypus. Head depressed. Body covered with fur. Feet expanded, webbed. 2. ECHIDNA. ... platypus anatinus, Shaw, Nat. Misc. t. 385; Gen. Zool. ip 229, t. ..."

8. New Homes for the Old Country: A Personal Experience of the Political and by George Smyth Baden-Powell (1872)
"7E now leave the fish, and bring our thoughts * * to the consideration of two most remarkable beasts, the platypus and the "Porcupine. ..."

9. Australasia by Henry Rees (1907)
"They include two chief genera, Ornitho- rhynchus, the' famous duck - billed platypus, and the Echidna or spiny ant-eater. The platypus or " water- duck ..."

10. Zoography: Or, The Beauties of Nature Displayed. In Select Descriptions from by William Wood (1807)
"THE DUCK-BILLED platypus. Naturalists' Miscellany, pi. 385. Shaw Gen. Zool. v. 1. p. 228. pi. 66. NATURALISTS received this animal with the utmost caution ..."

11. A History of the Earth, and Animated Nature by Oliver Goldsmith (1823)
"[THE platypus. THE Duck-billed platypus was first noticed by Dr Shaw, in his Naturalist's Miscellany; but as the animal there described was the only one ..."

12. Natural History of the World: With Anecdotes Illustrating the Nature, Habits edited by Alfred Henry Miles (1895)
"The Duck-billed platypus belongs to the former, the Australian Hedgehog ... The The Duck-billed platypus is one if the most Duck,billed singular of animals. ..."

Other Resources:

Search for Platypus on Dictionary.com!Search for Platypus on Thesaurus.com!Search for Platypus on Google!Search for Platypus on Wikipedia!