| a mollusklike marine animal; brachiopod. |
bra·chi·o·pod  (brā'kē-ə-pŏd', brāk'ē-)  n. Any of various marine invertebrates of the phylum Brachiopoda, having bivalve dorsal and ventral shells enclosing a pair of tentacled, armlike structures that are used to sweep minute food particles into the mouth. Also called lampshell. [From New Latin Brāchiopoda, phylum name : Latin brācchium, arm; see brachium + New Latin -poda, -pod.] brach'i·o·pod' adj. |
| lamp·shell (lāmp'shěl') n. See brachiopod. |