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Webster 1913 Edition

Nautilus

Nau′ti-lus

,
Noun.
;
pl. E.
Nautiluses
(#)
, L.
Nautili
(#)
.
[L., fr. Gr.
ναυτίλοσ
a seaman, sailor, a kind of shellfish which was supposed to be furnished with a membrane which served as a sail; fr.
ναῦσ
ship. See
Nave
of a church.]
1.
(Zool.)
The only existing genus of tetrabranchiate cephalopods. About four species are found living in the tropical Pacific, but many other species are found fossil. The shell is spiral, symmetrical, and chambered, or divided into several cavities by simple curved partitions, which are traversed and connected together by a continuous and nearly central tube or siphuncle. See
Tetrabranchiata
.
☞ The head of the animal bears numerous simple tapered arms, or tentacles, arranged in groups, but not furnished with suckers. The siphon, unlike, that of ordinary cephalopods, is not a closed tube, and is not used as a locomotive organ, but merely serves to conduct water to and from the gill cavity, which contains two pairs of gills. The animal occupies only the outer chamber of the shell; the others are filled with gas. It creeps over the bottom of the sea, not coming to the surface to swim or sail, as was formerly imagined.
2.
The argonaut; – also called
paper nautilus
. See
Argonauta
, and
Paper nautilus
, under
Paper
.
3.
A variety of diving bell, the lateral as well as vertical motions of which are controlled, by the occupants.

Webster 1828 Edition

Nautilus

NAUTILUS

,
Noun.
[L.,Gr. A ship] A genus of marine animals, whose shell consists of one spiral valve divided into several apartments by partitions. There are many species. This animal, when it sails, extends two of its arms, and between these supports a membrane that serves as a sail. With two other arms it rows or steers.
Learn of the little nautilus to sail.

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