English[edit]

Etymology[edit]

Borrowed from French quadrupède, from Middle French, from Latin stem of quadrupēs (“four-footed, a four-footed animal”), from quadri- (“four-”) + stem of pes (“foot”). Alternatively analyzable as quadru- +‎ -ped.

Pronunciation[edit]

• IPA^(key): /ˈkwɒdɹəpɛd/

• Audio (Southern England)

  (file)

Noun[edit]

quadruped (plural quadrupeds)

1. A four-footed or four-legged animal.
   • 2023 February 22, Stephen Roberts, “Reading... between the lines... to Wales”, in RAIL, number 977, page 56:

     Bradshaw knew nothing of the 'wind of change' that was coming in a century's time, so he contented himself with an exposition on the Vale of the White Horse, "deriving its singular denomination from the gigantic carving of that useful quadruped, on a high chalky hill beyond".

2. A mammal ambulating on all fours.

Synonyms[edit]

• tetrapod

Derived terms[edit]

Related terms[edit]

Translations[edit]

See also[edit]

• biped
• Tetrapoda