Pol"yp (?), n. [L. polypus, Gr. , , literally, many-footed; many + , , foot: cf. F. polype. See Poly- and Foot, and cf. Polypode, Polypody, Poulp.] Zool. (a)
One of the feeding or nutritive zooids of a hydroid or coral.
(b)
One of the Anthozoa.
(c) pl.
Same as Anthozoa. See Anthozoa, Madreporaria, Hydroid.
[Written also
polype.]
Fresh-water polyp, the hydra. -- Polyp stem Zool., that portion of the stem of a siphonophore which bears the polypites, or feeding zooids.
© Webster 1913.