The scientific Latin term was derived from Ancient Greek (), a compound form of (, 'eight') and (, 'foot'), itself a variant form of , a word used for example by Alexander of Tralles ( – ) for the common octopus., . The standard pluralised form of octopus in English is octopuses; Relevant data at Google Ngram Viewer. the Ancient Greek plural , (), has also been used historically. The alternative plural octopi is usually considered incorrect because it wrongly assumes that octopus is a Latin second-declension noun or adjective when, in either Greek or Latin, it is a third-declension noun.Peters, Pam (2004). The Cambridge Guide to English Usage. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. , p. 388.
The scientific Latin term was derived from Ancient Greek (), a compound form of (, 'eight') and (, 'foot'), itself a variant form of , a word used for example by Alexander of Tralles ( – ) for the common octopus. . The standard pluralised form of octopus in English is octopuses; Relevant data at Google Ngram Viewer. the Ancient Greek plural , (), ha,s also been used historically. The alternative plural octopi is usually considered incorrect because it wrongly assumes that octopus is a Latin second-declension noun or adjective when, in either Greek or Latin, it is a third-declension noun.Peters, Pam (2004). The Cambridge Guide to English Usage. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. , p. 388.