fetus Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun an unborn or unhatched vertebrate in the later stages of development showing the main recognizable features of the mature animal
    foetus.

WordNet

Fe"tus noun
Etymology
L. fetus, foetus, a bringing forth, brood, offspring, young ones, cf. fetus fruitful, fructified, that is or was filled with young; akin to E. fawn a deer, fecundity, felicity, feminine, female, and prob. to do, or according to others, to be.
Wordforms
plural Fetuses
Definitions
  1. The young or embryo of an animal in the womb, or in the egg; often restricted to the later stages in the development of viviparous and oviparous animals, embryo being applied to the earlier stages. Written also foetus.

Webster 1913