< Gr poikilos, varying < IE *poiko-, var. of base *peik-, colorful (> L pingere, to paint) + thermal
poikilothermal in American English
(ˌpɔikəlouˈθɜːrməl, pɔiˌkɪlə-)
adjective
Zoology
having a body temperature that changes with the temperature of the environment; cold-blooded (opposed to homoiothermal)
Derived forms
poikilothermismpoikilothermy
noun
Word origin
[1880–85; ‹ Gk poikílo(s) various + thermal]This word is first recorded in the period 1880–85. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: Chief of Staff, automatism, irredentist, rain check, regionalism