Lagopus
LAG-oh-pus
Genus
hare-footed one
Literally: hare-foot
| Part | Meaning | Language | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| lago- | hare | Greek (lago) | from Greek λαγώς (lagōs); combining form lago- |
| -pus | foot | Greek (pus) | from Greek πούς/ποδός (pous/podos); appears as -pus at word end |
The name is a single Greek compound noun used as a genus name, treated as Latin masculine. lago- (hare) is the modifier and -pus (foot) is the head noun. The compound literally means 'one with the feet of a hare,' referring to the densely feathered feet of ptarmigans and grouse, which resemble the fur-covered feet of a hare. As a genus name it stands alone, with no specific epithet here.
Pronunciation
- LAG-oh-pus Antepenult stress: the penult vowel (-o-) is short and followed by only one consonant (p) before the final syllable, so stress falls on the antepenult (LAG-). The antepenult vowel 'a' is short, followed by a single consonant and then -o- (not a qualifying vowel pair), so it is short: LAG.
Other readings
Some authors parse lago- as from lagōs (hare) directly rather than a combining form, but the meaning is identical.
Lagopus is the genus of ptarmigans and related grouse (family Phasianidae). The feathered feet that give the genus its name are a cold-climate adaptation insulating the birds against snow. The dictionary confirmed 'lago' (hare, Greek) and 'pus' (foot, Greek) as dictionary entries.