hyaloid, a. and n.
(ˈhaɪəlɔɪd)
[a. F. hyaloïde, or ad. L. hyaloīdes, a. Gr. ὑαλοειδής like glass, glassy, f. ὕαλος glass: see hyaline.]
A. adj. (Chiefly Anat.) a. Glassy, hyaline. hyaloid coat or hyaloid membrane, a thin transparent membrane enveloping the vitreous humour of the eye. hyaloid body, hyaloid humour, hyaloid substance: names for the vitreous humour (Syd. Soc. Lex.). b. Connected with the hyaloid membrane, as hyaloid artery, hyaloid canal, hyaloid vein (ibid.).
| 1835–6 Todd Cycl. Anat. I. 306/1 The outer capsule formed by the hyaloid membrane. Ibid. 553/1 The hyaloid coat..is perfectly transparent. 1838 Penny Cycl. X. 139/1 There can be no doubt that the vitreous humour is secreted by the surfaces of the hyaloid cells. 1877 Huxley Anat. Inv. Anim. viii. 527 Covered by a thick hyaloid membrane. |
B. n.
1. Anat. The hyaloid membrane: see A. a.
| [1670 Phil. Trans. V. 1025 The Hyaloeides, which invelopes the Vitreous humour, is perfectly transparent.] 1838 Penny Cycl. X. 138/2 The pigment left by the ciliary body, which..rests upon that portion of the surface of the hyaloid. 1869 Eng. Mech. 3 Dec. 272/2 Beyond this hyaloid..is the retina. |
2. = hyaline B. 1.
| 1844 Blackw. Mag. LVI. 31 A picturesque rock, immersed up to its shoulders in a green hyaloid. |