zoophytonhttp://www.oed.com/dictionary/zoophyton_n%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_usezoophyton, n.
First published 2017

zoophytonnoun

Biology. Now historical.
  1. 1.
    1601–
    Originally: an animal thought to resemble or have certain characteristics of a plant or flower. In later use (usually in plural): spec. any animal belonging to the (former) group Zoophyta, comprising certain sessile invertebrate animals, typically with a branching or radiating structure, such as crinoids, hydrozoans, sponges, and bryozoans. Cf. zoophyte n. 1.
    Also called animal flower, animal plant, phytozoon, plant-animal.
    1. 1601
      The Zoophyta [French le Zoophyte] partaketh of the plant and animal.
      R. Dolman, translation of P. de la Primaudaye, French Academie vol. III. 67
    2. 1635
      Mid creatures which wee call Zoophyta, and Plantanimalia.
      D. Person, Varieties i. 39
    3. 1651
      The Zeophyton [sic; Latin zoophytum] (i.e.) half Aniamll [sic], and half Plant.
      J. F., translation of H. C. Agrippa, Three Books of Occult Philosophy i. xxxvii. 74
    4. 1682
      To blame her [sc. Providence] for making Zoophiton's, or rather Amphibion's.
      H. More, Annot. Lux Orientalis 53 in Two Choice & Useful Treatises
    5. 1744
      A Zoophyton, somewhat resembling the Flower of the Marigold.
      Philosophical Transactions 1742–3 (Royal Society) vol. 42 590
    6. 1787
      Zoophyta. These are..said to resemble a flower, and to spring from a vegetating stem.
      R. Kentish, Ess. Method of studying Natural History 89
    7. 1855
      The innumerable tribes of zoophyta, mollusca, and other [in]vertebrata.
      J. Phillips, Manual of Geology 46
    8. 1879
      This zoophyton was found on the side of a small mountain brook of Ootacamund, in the water.
      Gardeners' Chronicle 28 June 816/3
    9. 1928
      As we cannot even say where plants and animals begin, since the ‘zoophyta’ forms are so similar to both, we cannot tell in which division to place them.
      E. Hawks, Pioneers of Plant Study viii. 57
    10. 1957
      He mentions 128 types of animal life which fall into the following categories: Zoophyta, Worms, Crustacea, Insecta, Arachnida, Mollusca, Fishes, Amphibia, Reptilia, Birds, Mammals.
      Journal Hist. Med. Allied Science vol. 12 106
    11. 2009
      Some saw in the zoophyta evidence that there was no essential difference between plants and animals.
      J. Sapp, New Found. Evolution p. xii
  2. 2.
    1627–1790
    † A plant thought to resemble an animal or to have certain certain qualities characteristic of animals, esp. a sensitive plant (sensitive plant n. 1b) or vegetable lamb (vegetable lamb n.). Cf. zoophyte n. 2. Obsolete.
    Also called plant-animal.
    1. 1627
      Zoophyta, or plants resembling liuing creatures (as the Mandrage resembling a man, the hearbe called the scythian lambe, resembling a lambe) are a middle betwixt animals and plants.
      J. Weemes, Pourtraiture Image of God in Man i. v. 49
    2. 1653
      The sensative Plant, and other Zoophyta.
      W. Harvey, Anatomical Exercitations xvii. 95
    3. 1695
      A species call'd Boranetz, i.e. the little Lamb, by the Natives, and by others Zoophyton, or the Animal Plant, which in shape resembles a Lamb.., and is cover'd with a downy or woolly skin.
      Thes. Geographicus 358/2
    4. ?1790
      Among other vegetables we find here..in the neighbourhood of Astracan, the celebrated zoophyton.
      N. Wyndham, Trav. through Europe vol. III. 58

zoophyton, n. was first published in June 2017.

zoophyton, n. was last modified in September 2024.