protriæne Zool.
(ˈprəʊtraɪˌiːn)
[f. pro-2 + triæne.]
In sponges, a triæne whose three prongs or cladi project forwards from the shaft.
| 1887 Sollas in Encycl. Brit. XXII. 417/1 (Sponges) The arms make different angles with the shaft: when recurved a grapnel or anatriæne is produced, when projecting forwards a protriæne, and when extended at right angles an orthotriæne. |