What's Latin for "octopus?"
I assume the Romans were aware of them- especially if the Greeks were.
( Lord Gnome, Sat 28 Jul 2007, 13:28, archived)

The word is greek in origin "8 legs" it means.
Not latin.
(Flobby Boris is returned to /talk from the northern wastes., Sat 28 Jul 2007, 13:29, archived)

That wasn't what I asked.
I am fully aware of that, hence why I asked what the Latin word was.
( Lord Gnome, Sat 28 Jul 2007, 13:34, archived)

I don't know what it is, I figure its the same.
Surely its irrevelent though since if its the same it would well... be the same. And if its different then we wouldn't be any closer to finding the plural of the greek word we use.
(Flobby Boris is returned to /talk from the northern wastes., Sat 28 Jul 2007, 13:38, archived)

The ancient Greeks don't have to have been aware of them for the word to be formed from Greek components.
I don't know if they were.
( Newington, Sat 28 Jul 2007, 13:31, archived)

Given that
They are regularly eaten in the Mediterranean I would have thought the Greeks and Romans would have been aware of them.

[Edit] From this Minoan jar and this Roman mosaic I think I can conclude that both civilisations probably were aware of them.
( Lord Gnome, Sat 28 Jul 2007, 13:35, archived)

you're taking this much too seriously

( minimum fuss - an all time favourite, Sat 28 Jul 2007, 13:41, archived)

Possibly
I'm just intrigued that we use a Latinised Greek word and wondered what word the Romans used.
( Lord Gnome, Sat 28 Jul 2007, 13:46, archived)

Stabby swords, pointed sticks, bath houses and colloseumses
NEXT
(Flobby Boris is returned to /talk from the northern wastes., Sat 28 Jul 2007, 13:47, archived)

That doesn't make a great deal of sense.

( Lord Gnome, Sat 28 Jul 2007, 13:48, archived)