zoon, n.

zoon
http://www.oed.com/dictionary/zoon_n%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_use
Revised 2017

# † zoonnoun

## Earlier version

- zoon, n. in OED Second Edition (1989)

## Factsheet

### What does the noun zoon mean?

There is one meaning in OED's entry for the noun zoon. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definition, usage, and quotation evidence.

This word is now obsolete. It is last recorded around the 1900s.

### Where does the noun zoon come from?

Earliest known use

1850s

The earliest known use of the noun zoon is in the 1850s.

OED's earliest evidence for zoon is from 1851, in the writing of William Carpenter, biologist and university administrator.

zoon is a borrowing from Latin.

Etymons: Greek ζῷον.

### Nearby entries

1. zoom lens, n. 1932–
2. zoomorph, n. 1883–
3. zoomorphic, adj. 1849–
4. zoomorphism, n. 1822–
5. zoomorphize, v. 1940–
6. zoomorphizing, n. 1895–
7. zoomorphosed, adj. 1955–
8. zoom shot, n. 1930–
9. zoomy, adj. 1931–
10. zoomythic, adj. 1889–
11. zoon, n.1851–1905
12. zoon, v. 1880–
13. zoon, int. 1863–
14. -zoon, comb. form
15. zoonate, n. 1798–1857
16. zoonerythrin, n. 1882–
17. zoonic, adj. 1798–1853
18. zooning, n. 1885–
19. Zoonist, adj. 1890–97
20. zoonite, n. 1838–
21. zoonitic, adj. 1860–91

## Etymology

### Summary

A borrowing from Latin.
Etymon: Greek ζῷον.
< ancient Greek ζῷον 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 Greek ζῷον 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 ‑zoon comb. form and ‑zoa comb. form, combinations with which are attested earlier.

## Meaning & use

Biology. Obsolete.

1. 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.
   1. 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
   2. 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 Biology vol. I. §73
   3. 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 Society vol. 32 385
   4. 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
   ecology
   1. zoonite 1838–
      A body segment of an articulated or segmented animal, esp. such a segment regarded as a distinct organism; a metamere or somite. Cf. zonite, n.…
   2. zooid 1851–
      An organism or (esp. in early use) motile cell thought to resemble an animal but not to be one in a strict or full sense; esp. an invertebrate…
   3. zoon 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…
   4. zoid 1856–
      = zooid, n.
   View in Historical Thesaurus
   1. individual 1746–
      Zoology. Each of the distinct beings which make up a colonial organism, and which typically have different forms and functions. Cf. person, n. III.9.
   2. zoonite 1838–
      A body segment of an articulated or segmented animal, esp. such a segment regarded as a distinct organism; a metamere or somite. Cf. zonite, n.…
   3. zooid 1851–
      An organism or (esp. in early use) motile cell thought to resemble an animal but not to be one in a strict or full sense; esp. an invertebrate…
   4. zoon 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…
   5. zoid 1856–
      = zooid, n.
   6. allozooid 1857–61
      A detached vegetative bud or zooid which is different in form from its parent animal.
   7. person 1876–
      Zoology. Each of the individual zooids of a colonial organism. Now rare.
   View in Historical Thesaurus

## Forms

### Variant forms

1. 1800s
   zöon, zoön
2. 1800s–1900s
   zoon

zoon, n. was revised in June 2017.

zoon, n. was last modified in July 2023.