Zool. rare. [ad. mod.L. botryllus, as if ad. Gr. *βότρυλλος, dim. of βότρυς cluster of grapes.] A genus of tunicate mollusks, giving its name to the family Botryllidæ. The Lat. name is usually adopted unchanged. Hence Botryllian a., belonging to the family Botryllidæ.
1835. Kirby, Hab. & Inst. Anim., I. vii. 219. Sometimes they are parasitic: thus a species of botrylle envelopes, like a cloak, certain ascidians.
1849–52. Todd, Cycl. Anat. & Phys., IV. 1208/2. The botryllian group of Tunicates.
