a. and sb. Zool. [f. Gr. κώπη handle, oar-handle, and hence oar + -ποδ- -footed, f. πούς, ποδ- foot.]
A. adj. Belonging to the order Copepoda of minute entomostracous Crustaceans, having four or five pairs of feet chiefly used for swimming. B. sb. A member of this order: pl. copepods; collectively, as name of the order, (in L. form) copepoda.
1836. Todd, Cycl. Anat., I. 762/1. The copepoda supply no such instances of thoracic extremities … destined for swimming.
1876. Beneden’s Anim. Parasites, 45. It attaches itself to a copepod crustacean.
1877. Huxley, Anat. Inv. Anim., vi. 348. The resemblance to an adult Copepod is so striking that it may be termed the Copepod stage.
1885. Athenæum, 11 April, 474/2. The phyllopods and copepods.
Hence Copepodan, Copepodous adjs., belonging to or characteristic of the Copepoda.
1877. Huxley, Anat. Inv. Anim., vi. 358. The fore part of the head has remained Copepodous.
1888. Rolleston & Jackson, Anim. Life, 536. The three parasitic Copepodan genera.
