Adjacent Words

giant squid definitions

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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: largest mollusk known about but never seen (to 60 feet long) [syn: architeuthis, giant squid]

Merriam Webster's

noun Date: circa 1890 any of a genus (Architeuthis) of extremely large squids that may attain a length of 60 feet (18 meters) and include the largest mollusks known

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Squid Squid, n. [Cf. Squirt.] 1. (Zo["o]l.) Any one of numerous species of ten-armed cephalopods having a long, tapered body, and a caudal fin on each side; especially, any species of Loligo, Ommastrephes, and related genera. See Calamary, Decacerata, Dibranchiata. Note: Some of these squids are very abundant on the Atlantic coast of North America, and are used in large quantities for bait, especially in the cod fishery. The most abundant of the American squids are the northern squid (Ommastrephes illecebrosus), ranging from Southern New England to Newfoundland, and the southern squid (Loligo Pealii), ranging from Virginia to Massachusetts. 2. A fishhook with a piece of bright lead, bone, or other substance, fastened on its shank to imitate a squid. Flying squid, Giant squid. (Zo["o]l.) See under Flying, and Giant. Squid hound (Zo["o]l.), the striped bass.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Giant Gi"ant, a. Like a giant; extraordinary in size, strength, or power; as, giant brothers; a giant son. Giant cell. (Anat.) See Myeloplax. Giant clam (Zo["o]l.), a bivalve shell of the genus Tridacna, esp. T. gigas, which sometimes weighs 500 pounds. The shells are sometimes used in churches to contain holy water. Giant heron (Zo["o]l.), a very large African heron (Ardeomega goliath). It is the largest heron known. Giant kettle, a pothole of very large dimensions, as found in Norway in connection with glaciers. See Pothole. Giant powder. See Nitroglycerin. Giant puffball (Bot.), a fungus (Lycoperdon giganteum), edible when young, and when dried used for stanching wounds. Giant salamander (Zo["o]l.), a very large aquatic salamander (Megalobatrachus maximus), found in Japan. It is the largest of living Amphibia, becoming a yard long. Giant squid (Zo["o]l.), one of several species of very large squids, belonging to Architeuthis and allied genera. Some are over forty feet long.