Tentacle
WordNet
noun
(1) Any of various elongated tactile or prehensile flexible organs that occur on the head or near the mouth in many animals; used for feeling or grasping or locomotion
(2) Something that acts like a tentacle in its ability to grasp and hold
"Caught in the tentacles of organized crime"
WiktionaryText
Noun
- An elongated, boneless, flexible organ or limb of some animals, such as the octopus and squid.
- 1873, Jules Verne, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
- With one blow of the axe, Captain Nemo cut this formidable tentacle, that slid wriggling down the ladder.
- 1897, H. G. Wells, The Crystal Egg
- The body was small, but fitted with two bunches of prehensile organs, like long tentacles, immediately under the mouth.
- 1936, H. P. Lovecraft, The Shadow Out of Time
- Surmounting this head were four slender grey stalks bearing flower-like appendages, whilst from its nether side dangled eight greenish antennae or tentacles.
- 1873, Jules Verne, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea