<ancient Greekζῷον animal, ultimately <ζώειν to live (< an ablaut variant of the base of βίος life: see bio-comb. form) + ‑ιον, suffix forming nouns; the noun may have been formed on the derivative ζώς (also…
<ancient Greekζῷον animal, ultimately <ζώειν to live (< an ablaut variant of the base of βίος life: see bio-comb. form) + ‑ιον, suffix forming nouns; the noun may have been formed on the derivative ζώς (also ζωός) alive.Compare ‑zooncomb. form and ‑zoacomb. form, combinations with which are attested earlier.
Meaning & use
Biology. Obsolete.
1851–1905
A distinct organism (whether a single entity, as in vertebrates, or a colonial form consisting of zooids) regarded as being the whole product of a fertilized ovum.
In quot. 1905, the primary zooid (ancestrula) of a colonial organism.
1851
The detached portions of the stock originating in a single generative act will be termed Zöoids; whilst by the words ‘animal’ or ‘entire animal’ (the equivalent of Zöon) will be implied..the collective product of a single generative act.
W. B. Carpenter, Principles Physiology (ed. 3) xviii. 906
1864
A zoological individual is constituted either by any such single animal as a mammal or bird, which may properly claim the title of a zoon, or by any such group of animals as the numerous Medusæ that have been developed from the same egg, which are to be severally distinguished as zooids.
H. Spencer, Principles of Biologyvol. I. §73
1894
The transient characters of each zoön also do not differ in any way from others that are inherited in allied species, genera, etc.
Proceedings of American Philosophical Societyvol. 32 385
1905
When full grown the zoon is more erect and gives off four buds from its dorsal side.
J. M. A. Sheldon, Guide Invertebr. Synoptic Coll. 116