from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Polyp \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}.]
(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}.]
[1913 Webster]
{Fresh-water polyp}, the hydra.
{Polyp stem} (Zool.), that portion of the stem of a
siphonophore which bears the polypites, or feeding zooids.
[1913 Webster]