"Having many stomachs or digestive cavities; specifically of or relating to the former group Polygastrica of protozoans whose food-containing vacuoles were thought to be separate digestive organs (now historical )", Mid 19th cent.; earliest use found in The Lancet. From poly- + gastric, after monogastric and scientific Latin Polygastrica.[polygastric etymology, polygastric origin, 英语词源]