‖ noctiluca
(nɒktɪˈluːkə)
Pl. -lucæ (-luːsiː).
[ad. L. noctilūca moon, lantern, f. nocti-, nox night + lūcēre to shine. Cf. F. noctiluque.]
† 1. A species of phosphorus. Obs.
| 1680 Boyle Aerial Noctiluca 5 This [phosphorus] by some Learned Men has been call'd, to discriminate it from the former, a Noctiluca. 1681–2 ― New Exp. Icy Noctiluca 19 Our Icy Noctiluca or Phosphorus is manifestly heavier in Specie than common Water. 1706 Phillips, Noctiluca, a certain Substance, chymically perpared, such as will shine of it self in the dark. 1727–38 in Chambers Cycl. |
2. Zool. A marine animalcule, of a nearly spherical shape, which produces a phosphorescent appearance in the sea.
| 1855 Orr's Circ. Sci., Org. Nat. II. 227 In some localities the Noctiluca..also plays an important part in the production of this phenomenon. 1865 Pop. Sci. Rev. 179 The Noctiluca, which causes the sea waves to sparkle with phosphoric light. 1883 Harper's Mag. Jan. 182/2 A gobletful of the noctilucæ produces light sufficient to read by at a distance of two feet. |
Hence † noctiˈlucal a., phosphorescent. noctiˈlucan, an animalcule of the genus Noctiluca (Cassell 1886). noctiˈlucence, marine phosphorescence due to noctilucæ (Stand. Dict. 1895). noctiˈlucin(e [F. noctilucine], the light-giving substance in phosphorescent animalcules.
| 1681–2 Boyle New Exp. Icy Noctiluca 46 A conjecture I had made about the great diffusedness of the Noctilucal Matter. 1880 Libr. Univ. Knowl. X. 659 Noctilucine has a syrupy consistence at ordinary temperatures. |