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DictionaryhippocampusMythical sea creature
noun

hippocampus

a mythical creature with a horse's upper body and a fish's tail

A hippocampus has a horse's upper body and a fish's tail.

Etymology
hippoGreekhorse
+campusGreeksea monster

The Greek name joins horse with a word for a sea monster. The compound matches the mythical creature’s combination of equine upper body and marine tail.

More examples

  • The mosaic shows a hippocampus pulling a sea god's chariot.
  • She draws a hippocampus with a long, curling tail.
  • Two hippocampi guard the underwater palace in the story.

Forms

hippocampus · hippocampi · hippocampuses