Cyclops

A common freshwater crustacean. Some species of Cyclops serve as hosts for parasites such as the guinea worm, the cause of dracunculiasis (guinea worm disease). The Cyclops were one-eyed giants of Greek mythology, a mythical race of lawless giant shepherds who lived in Sicily. They had a single large round eye in the center of the forehead. The word "cyclops" itself comes from the Greek "kyklos" (circle) + "ops" (eye). Cyclopia is a congenital malformation (birth defect) in which there is only one eye located just above the customary location of the nose.

* * *

An individual with cyclopia. SYN: monoculus (1), monophthalmus, monops. [see cyclopia]

* * *

cyclically ordered phase sequence; Cyclophosphamide in Systemic Vasculitis

* * *

cy·clops 'sī-.kläps n

1) pl cy·clo·pes sī-'klō-(.)pēz an individual or fetus abnormal in having a single eye or the usual two orbits fused

2) cap a genus of minute free-swimming copepods that have a large median eye, a pear-shaped body tapering posteriorly, and long antennules used in swimming, that are widely distributed and abundant in fresh waters, that are important elements in certain aquatic food chains, and that directly affect humans as intermediate hosts of certain parasitic worms see GUINEA WORM

3) pl cyclops a copepod water flea of the genus Cyclops

* * *

Cy·clops (siґklops) a genus of minute crustaceans, species of which are hosts to Dracunculus and Diphyllobothrium.