zoophyte
(ˈzəʊəfaɪt)
Forms: α. 7–8 zoophyton (7 zoophiton), 7–9 pl. zoophyta (zəʊˈɒfɪtə). β. 7 zoophyt, -phit, 7–9 -phite, 7– zoophyte.
[ad. mod.L. zōophyton, a. Gr. ζῳόϕυτον (Aristotle), f. ζῷον animal + ϕυτόν plant, f. ϕύεσθαι to grow. Cf. F. zoöphyte (Rabelais).]
† 1. Applied to certain plants having or supposed to have some qualities of animals, as the ‘sensitive plant’ and the ‘vegetable lamb’ or barometz. Obs.
| 1621 Lodge Summary Du Bartas i. 132 There is mention of the Boranets, Zoophites, or Plant-animals of Moscouy, in the first Booke of the second Weeke. 1653 W. Harvey Anat. Exerc. xvii. 95 The sensative Plant, and other Zoophyta. 1680 Morden Geog. Rect., Muscovy (1685) 67 In this Country grows the Plant Zoophyte that resembles a Lamb. |
2. A general name for various animals of low organization, formerly classed as intermediate between animals and plants, being usually fixed, and often having a branched or radiating structure, thus resembling plants or flowers: as crinoids, hornwracks, sea-anemones, corals, hydroids, sponges, etc.; any member of the group
Zoophyta.
Formerly sometimes applied to the branched connecting structure in hornwracks, corals, etc. as distinct from the ‘polyps’ inhabiting it; but often also a synonym of ‘polyp’.
In early modern Zoology the term
Zoophyta was applied systematically but with varying extent, sometimes including all the Echinoderms, Polyzoa, Cœlenterates, Sponges, and Protozoa, in other cases more restricted,
esp. to the Cœlenterates; it is now almost or entirely disused.
| α 1635 D. Person Varieties i. §9 Mid creatures which wee call Zoophyta, and Plantanimalia. 1651 J. F[reake] Agrippa's Occ. Philos. 74 The Zoophyton [mispr. Zeo-] (i.e.) half Animall, and half Plant. 1682 H. More Annot. Glanvill's Lux O. 53 To blame her [sc. Providence] for making Zoophiton's, or rather Amphibion's. 1743 Phil. Trans. XLII. 590 A Zoophyton, somewhat resembling the Flower of the Marigold. 1855 J. Phillips Man. Geol. 46 The innumerable tribes of zoophyta, mollusca, and other [in]vertebrata. |
| β 1621 Burton Anat. Mel. ii. ii. iii. 319 Many strange creatures, mineralls, vegetalls, Zoophites. 1640 Howell Dodona's Grove 23 Those Zoophits or Plant-Animals the Philosophers write of. 1644 Digby Nat. Bodies xxiii. (1658) 259 Under the title of plants I include not zoophytes or plant animals. 1752 Watson in Phil. Trans. XLVII. 457 If..some will still consider these marine productions as plants, they are truly zoophytes, formed by the labour of the animals, which inhabit them. 1762 Nasmyth ibid. LII. 556 Whether animal, zoophite, or submarine plant, I leave to your determination. 1828 Stark Elem. Nat. Hist. II. 395 Polypi or Zoophytes; comprehending all those small, gelatinous, and compound or aggregated animals which have a mouth surrounded by tentacula, and conducting into a simple stomach. 1847 Whewell Hist. Induct. Sci. (1857) III. 463 Suppose the coralline zoophytes to go on building. 1877 Thomson Voy. Challenger I. iv. 255 Very elegant alcyonarian zoophytes. |
| fig. 1865 O. W. Holmes Aut. Breakf.-t. viii. 75 When the whole human zoöphyte flowers out like a full-blown rose. |
3. attrib. and
Comb.| 1753 Chambers' Cycl. Suppl. s.v. Marygold, Zoophyte Marygold..the name of a species of sea animal, of a very beautiful kind, and of the nature of those commonly called Zoophytes,..by the old naturalists. 1856 Carpenter Micros. §69 For the examination of living aquatic objects, too large to be conveniently received into the Aquatic Box, the Zoophyte-trough contrived by Mr. Lister may be employed with great advantage. 1889 Science-Gossip XXV. 38 The zoophyte-clothed rocks. |
Hence
ˈzoophytal,
zoophytic (
-ˈfɪtɪk),
-ical adjs., of or pertaining to a zoophyte or zoophytes; of the nature of a zoophyte; produced by zoophytes;
ˈzoophytish a., having the character of a zoophyte;
ˈzoophytist, a naturalist who studies zoophytes, a zoophytologist;
ˌzoophyˈtography, description of zoophytes;
zooˈphytoid a., resembling a zoophyte, or related to the zoophytes;
ˌzoophytoˈlogical a., pertaining to zoophytology;
ˌzoophyˈtologist, one versed in zoophytology;
ˌzoophyˈtology, that department of zoology which treats of zoophytes.
| 1838 Mantell Wonders Geol. II. 468 In the flustra..we have the elements of *zoophytal organization. |
| 1818 Q. Jrnl. Sci. V. 375 Molluscous and *zoophytic animals. 1830 Lyell Princ. Geol. I. 128 The zoophytic, and shelly lime⁓stones..sometimes alternate with the rocks of mechanical origin. 1851 Richardson Geol. (1855) 216 The ocean's bed, on which the foundations of the zoophytic structure are laid. |
| 1838 G. Johnston Brit. Zooph. 8 Bernard de Jussieu and Guettard proceeded..to different parts of the coasts of France with the view of examining their *zoophytical productions. 1850 W. Scoresby Cheever's Whalem. Adv. iv. (1858) 53 Many of the zoophytical and molluscous orders. |
| 1854 Chamb. Jrnl. 28 Oct. 280/1 The home of some human reptile or *zoophytish monster. |
| 1862 Ansted Channel Isl. ii. ix. 242 Caverns..worthy the careful examination of the *zoophytist. |
| 1736 Bailey (folio) Pref., *Zoophytography..a Treatise or Discourse of animal Plants, as Cockles, Muscles, Oysters. |
| 1861 R. E. Grant Tabular View Rec. Zool. 66 Physograda..*Zoophytoid. |
| 1828–32 Webster, *Zoophytological. |
| 1849–52 Todd's Cycl. Anat. IV. 1307/1 The modern *Zoophytologist. |
| 1828 Athenæum 6 Aug. 651/1 *Zoophytology. Respiration of Animalcules. 1883 Knowledge 13 July 22/1 Ellis..has been called the father of English Zoophytology. |