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Webster 1913 Edition


Physalia


Phy-sa′li-a

,
p
rop.
Noun.
[NL., fr. Gr.
φυσαλλίσ
a bladder, fr.
φῦσα
a bellows.]
(Zool.)
A genus of large oceanic Siphonophora which includes the
Portuguese man-of-war
.
☞ It has a large air sac, or float, with a sail-like crest on its upper side. Numerous zooids of different kinds are attached to the under side of the float. Some of the zooids have very long tentacles; some have a mouth and digest food; others produce gonophores. The American species (
Physalia arethusa
) is brilliantly colored, the float being pink or purple, and bright blue; the zooids blue. It is noted for its virulent stinging powers, as well as for its beautiful colors, graceful motions, and its ability to sail to windward.

Definition 2024


Physalia

Physalia

Translingual

Proper noun

Physalia f

  1. A taxonomic genus within the order Siphonophora colonies of specialized polyps and medusoids, the Pacific man-of-war and the Portuguese man-of-war.

Hypernyms

Hyponyms