[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

mantis \man"tis\, n. nl., fr. gr. ? a prophet. zool.
   any one of numerous species of voracious orthopterous insects
   of the genus mantis, and allied genera. they are predacious
   long-bodied large-eyed insects of warm regions, are
   remarkable for their slender grotesque forms, and for holding
   their stout anterior legs in a manner suggesting hands folded
   in prayer. the common american species is mantis carolina.
   1913 webster

   mantis shrimp. zool. the squilla, a tropical marine
      burrowing crustacean with large grasping appendages. also
      called mantis crab and mantis prawn.
      1913 webster
see also:
mantis mantis carolina mantis shrimp squilla mantis crab mantis prawn 

[2] : WordNet (r) 2.0

mantis
     n : predacious long-bodied large-eyed insect of warm regions;
         rests with forelimbs raised as in prayer syn: mantid
     also: mantes pl
see also:
mantid mantes 

[3] : The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (27 SEP 03)

mantis
     
         a structured, full-function procedural 4gl and
        application development system from cincom.  mantis enables
        the developer to design prototypes, create transaction screens
        and reports, define logical data views, write structured
        procedures, and dynamically test, correct, document, secure,
        and release applications for production in a single,
        integrated, interactive session.
     
        mantis applications can be enhanced with gooi, the graphical
        object-oriented interface, which creates graphical windows
        representations of existing mantis screens.
     
        home http://www.cincom.com/products/mantis/.
     
        2003-08-08
     
     
see also:
4gl cincom lt;homegt; 

Mantis >> M Words
Mantis, definition of term: Mantis
mantis_pag1.html

Praying Mantis >> P Words
Praying Mantis, definition of term: Praying Mantis
praying+mantis_pag1.html