Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web

comatulid

 - 2 dictionary results

co⋅mat⋅u⋅lid

[kuh-mach-uh-lid]
–noun
a free-swimming, stalkless crinoid; feather star.

Origin:
1880–85; < NL Comatulidae, equiv. to Comatul(a) genus name (see comate 2 , -ule ) + -idae -id 2
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To comatulid
co·mat·u·lid   (kə-māch'ə-lĭd)   
n.   pl. co·mat·u·lids also co·mat·u·lae (-lē)
Any of various marine invertebrates of the class Crinoidea, such as the sea lilies and feather stars, that are attached to a surface by a stalk when young but may be free-swimming as adults.

[From New Latin Comātulidae, former family name, from Late Latin comātulus, having neatly curled hair, from Latin comātus, having long hair; see comate1.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Search another word or see comatulid on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us: