zoocytiumhttp://www.oed.com/dictionary/zoocytium_n%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_usezoocytium, n.
Revised 2017

zoocytiumnoun

Zoology. Now historical and rare.
  1. 1880–
    The outer support sheath or matrix of certain colonial protists.
    1. 1880–1
      Spongomonas... Animalcules..living in social colonies, and forming by excretion a common domicile, which takes the form of a..gelatinous or semi-granular zoocytium, within which they remain constantly immersed.
      W. Saville-Kent, Manual of Infusoria vol. I. 286
    2. 1892
      Each zoocytium being composed of about six hundred zooids.
      14th Annual Rep. State Board Health Connecticut 1891 397
    3. 1906
      The ‘zoocytia’ of several individuals may sometimes be united.
      Proceedings Davenport (Iowa) Acad. Science vol. 11 89
    4. 2015
      Cells were embedded..in a common mucilaginous matrix or ‘zoocytium’ that was a transparent film-like expansion.
      B. S. C. Leadbeater, Choanoflagellates i. 12/2

Originally published as part of the entry for zoo-, comb. form

zoocytium, n. was revised in June 2017.

zoocytium, n. was last modified in July 2023.