praying mantis

Meaning

Noun

• Any of various predatory, cannibalistic insects of the order Mantodea that have a prayer-like stance.
• A mantid of the species Mantis religiosa (species).
• A woman who preys on men (from the idea that female praying mantises eat males after sex).

Related

Similar words

• mantid, mantis<!--
• -->

Origin

• Mantis from Greek μάντις. Named "praying mantis" for their stance, with the forelegs held together in a way that resembles a person praying. Similar designations exist in many European as well as non-European languages. Compare for example French mante religieuse, German Gottesanbeterin, Persian آخوندک.