teliferous, a.
(tɪˈlɪfərəs)
[f. L. *tēlifer dart-bearing, f. tēlum dart: see -ferous.]
† 1. Bearing darts or missiles. Obs. rare.
| 1656 Blount Glossogr., Teliferous,..which beareth darts, arrows or weapons. 1658 in Phillips. |
2. Zool. Armed with nematocysts or stinging cells, as the Telifera, a division of the Cœlenterata comprising all except the Sponges (Porifera).
| 1860 Gosse Hist. Brit. Sea-Anemones Introd. 22 Teliferous System... The Actinaria are furnished with a system of armature of most extraordinary character... Their tissues contain excessively minute bodies, in the form of oblong or oval transparent vesicles, which have the power of shooting out a long thread of extensive tenuity. |