ˌästrəˈkōdə, äˈstrakədə noun plural
Usage: capitalized
Etymology: New Latin, from Greek ostrakōdēs testaceous, from ostrakon potsherd, shell
: a subclass of crustacea comprising small active mostly freshwater forms having the body enclosed in a bivalve shell composed of right and left valves, the body segmentation obscured, the abdomen rudimentary, and only seven pairs of appendages
• os·tra·co·dan -d ə n adjective
• os·tra·co·dous -dəs adjective