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Webster 1913 Edition
Noctiluca
‖
Nocˊti-lu′ca
,Noun.
pl.
Noctilucae
(#)
. [L.
noctiluca
something that shines by night, fr. nox
, noctis
, night + lucere
to shine, lux
light.] 1.
(Old Chem.)
That which shines at night; – a fanciful name for phosphorus.
2.
(Zool.)
A genus of marine flagellate Infusoria, remarkable for their unusually large size and complex structure, as well as for their phosphorescence. The brilliant diffuse phosphorescence of the sea is often due to myriads of Noctilucae.
Webster 1828 Edition
Noctiluca
NOCTIL'UCA
,Noun.