Pol"yp (?), n. [L. polypus, Gr.
?, ?, literally, many-footed; poly`s many + ?, ?,
foot: cf. F. polype. See Poly- and Foot, and cf.
Polypode, Polypody, Poulp.] (Zoöl.)
(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 (Zoöl.), that portion of
the stem of a siphonophore which bears the polypites, or feeding
zooids.