OLIGOCHAETE

[ 'ɒlɪgəki:t ]

■ noun Zoology an annelid worm of the class Oligochaeta, which includes the earthworms.

Origin

from mod. L. Oligochaeta , from oligo- + Gk khaitē 'long hair' (taken to mean 'bristle'), because they have fewer setae than polychaetes.