gorgonia Zool.
(gɔːˈgəʊnɪə)
Pl. gorgoniæ, -ias.
[a. mod.L. gorgonia, fem. of gorgonius, f. gorgon-em Gorgon. The name was intended to express its petrified character: cf. Gorgon 1 d.]
A genus of polyps (family Gorgoniaceæ); an individual of this genus; a sea-fan, sea-plume.
| 1767 Ellis in Phil. Trans. LVII. 433 Most of the Sertularias, Gorgonias. 1775 Ibid. LXVI. 1 Zoophytes..formerly called Ceratophytons, now Gorgoniæ. 1860 Maury Phys. Geog. Sea (Low) xiii. §560 The yellow and lilac fans, perforated like trellis-work, of the Gorgonias. 1883 Fisheries Exhib. Catal. (ed. 4) 100 Corals, Sponges and Gorgoniæ. 1885 A. Brassey The Trades 297 Some lovely plumes of sea feathers, a species of gorgonia, which had the appearance of ten or a dozen ostrich feathers. |
Hence gorˈgonian a.1, pertaining to the gorgonias or their family. Also n., a polyp of the family.
| 1835 Kirby Hab. & Inst. Anim. I. v. 168 In the vicinity of volcanic islands in the Polar seas, corallines and gorgonians [occur]. 1884 Nature 17 July 281/1 The numerous species that live clinging to the branches of gorgonians..The gorgonian corals of many species. |