centipede

The term is primarily used in a biological context to describe a specific class of arthropods. While the name literally suggests a hundred legs, it is used as a general label for all members of the class Chilopoda, regardless of the actual number of leg pairs they possess.

In common parlance, the word often carries a negative or fearful connotation, frequently associated with pests or creepy-crawlies. It is rarely used metaphorically, remaining strictly tied to the physical organism.