‖prop. n. pl. [ NL., fr. Gr. malako`s soft + -poda. ] (Zool.) A class of air-breathing Arthropoda; -- called also Protracheata, and Onychophora. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ They somewhat resemble myriapods, and have from seventeen to thirty-three pairs of short, imperfectly jointed legs, two pairs of simple jaws, and a pair of antennae. The trancheae are connected with numerous spiracles scattered over the surface of the body. Peripatus is the only known genus. See Peripatus. [ 1913 Webster ]