echinoderm
(ɪˈkaɪnəʊ-, ˈɛkɪnəʊdɜːm)
[f. echinodermata, by shortening.]
A member of the class Echinodermata; hence echinoˈdermal a. [see -al] = echinodermatous. ‖ echinodermata (-ˈdɜːmətə), n. pl. [mod.L., f. Gr. δέρµατ- stem of δέρµα skin], a class of animals formerly included in the Radiata, but now placed in the sub-kingdom Annuloida, including Sea-urchins, Sea-cucumbers. etc.; the name refers to the sharp-pointed spines with which the skin of the typical species is studded. echinoˈdermatous a., belonging to or resembling the echinodermata.
| 1835 Kirby Hab. & Inst. Anim. I. vi. 201 The *Echinoderms form the second order of the Radiaries. 1886 Athenæum 18 Dec. 828/2 The blastoids form an extinct group of stalked echinoderms. |
| 1845 Whewell Indic. Creator 39 The higher types of *Echinodermal, Articulate, and Molluscous, Animals. |
| 1835–6 Todd Cycl. Anat. I. 109/2 Some marine animals without an *echinodermatous covering. |