praying mantis

Meaning

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

Synonyms

stick insect

mantis

praying mantid

Mantis religioso

European mantis

i stick insect

dragonfly

European praying mantis

grasshopper

squilla

dictyopterous insect

mantid

Translations

mante religieuse

Gottesanbeterin

louva-a-deus

mantis religiosa

mantide religiosa

Mantodea

αλογάκι της Παναγίας

santateresa

pregadéu

bidsprinkhaan

cavalinho-de-deus

europäische Gottesanbeterin

mantodeu

Etymology

Cognate with French: mante religieuse

Cognate with German: Gottesanbeterin

Cognate with Portuguese: louva-a-deus

Cognate with Persian: آخوندک

In summary

Mantis from Greek μάντις (mántis). 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 (literally “religious mantis”), German Gottesanbeterin (literally “God-worshipper”), Portuguese louva-a-deus (literally “God-praiser”), Persian آخوندک (âxundak, literally “little cleric”).