Forms: α. 7–8 zoophyton (7 zoophiton), 7–9 pl. zoophyta. β. 7 zoophyt, -phit, 7–9 -phite, 7– zoophyte. [ad. mod.L. zōophyton, a. Gr. ζῳόφυτον (Aristotle), f. ζῴον animal + φυτόν plant, f. φύεσθαι to grow. Cf. F. zoöphyte (Rabelais).]
† 1. Applied to certain plants having or supposed to have some qualities of animals, as the ‘sensitive plant’ and the ‘vegetable lamb’ or BAROMETZ. Obs.
1621. Lodge, Summary Du Bartas, I. 132. There is mention of the Boranets, Zoophites, or Plant-animals of Moscouy, in the first Booke of the second Weeke.
1653. W. Harvey, Anat. Exerc., xvii. 95. The sensative Plant, and other Zoophyta.
1680. Morden, Geog. Rect., Muscovy (1685), 67. In this Country grows the Plant Zoophyte that resembles a Lamb.
2. A general name for various animals of low organization, formerly classed as intermediate between animals and plants, being usually fixed, and often having a branched or radiating structure, thus resembling plants or flowers: as crinoids, hornwracks, sea-anemones, corals, hydroids, sponges, etc.; any member of the group Zoophyta.
Formerly sometimes applied to the branched connecting structure in hornwracks, corals, etc., as distinct from the ‘polyps’ inhabiting it; but often also a synonym of ‘polyp.’
In early modern Zoology the term Zoophyta was applied systematically but with varying extent, sometimes including all the Echinoderms, Polyzoa, Cœlenterates, Sponges, and Protozoa, in other cases more restricted, esp. to the Cœlenterates; it is now almost or entirely disused.
α. 1635. Person, Varieties, I. § 9. Mid creatures which wee call Zoophyta, and Plantanimalia.
1651. J. F[reake], Agrippa’s Occ. Philos., 74. The Zoophyton [mispr. Zeo-] (i.e.) half Animall, and half Plant.
1682. H. More, Annot. Glanvill’s Lux O., 53. To blame her [sc. Providence] for making Zoophiton’s, or rather Amphibion’s.
1743. Phil. Trans., XLII. 590. A Zoophyton, somewhat resembling the Flower of the Marigold.
1855. J. Phillips, Man. Geol., 46. The innumerable tribes of zoophyta, mollusca, and other [in]vertebrata.
β. 1621. Burton, Anat. Mel., II. ii. III. 319. Many strange creatures, mineralls, vegetalls, Zoophites.
1640. Howell, Dodona’s Grove, 23. Those Zoophits or Plant-Animals the Philosophers write of.
1644. Digby, Nat. Bodies, xxiii. (1658), 259. Under the title of plants I include not zoophyles or plant animals.
1752. Watson, in Phil. Trans., XLVII. 457. If … some will still consider these marine productions as plants, they are truly zoophytes, formed by the labour of the animals, which inhabit them.
1762. Nasmyth, ibid., LII. 556. Whether animal, zoophite, or submarine plant, I leave to your determination.
1828. Stark, Elem. Nat. Hist., II. 395. Polypi or Zoophytes; comprehending all those small, gelatinous, and compound or aggregated animals which have a mouth surrounded by tentacula, and conducting into a simple stomach.
1847. Whewell, Hist. Induct. Sci. (1857), III. 463. Suppose the coralline zoophytes to go on building.
1877. Thomson, Voy. Challenger, I. iv. 255. Very elegant alcyonarian zoophytes.
fig. 1865. O. W. Holmes, Aut. Breakf.-t., viii. 75. When the whole human zoöphyte flowers out like a full-blown rose.
3. attrib. and Comb.
1753. Chambers’ Cycl., Suppl. s.v. Marygold, Zoophyte Marygold … the name of a species of sea animal, of a very beautiful kind, and of the nature of those commonly called Zoophytes,… by the old naturalists.
1856. Carpenter, Micros., § 69. For the examination of living aquatic objects, too large to be conveniently received into the Aquatic Box, the Zoophyte-trough contrived by Mr. Lister may be employed with great advantage.
1889. Hardwicke’s Science-Gossip, XXV. 38/2. The zoophyte-clothed rocks.
Hence Zoophytal, Zoophytic, -ical adjs., of or pertaining to a zoophyte or zoophytes; of the nature of a zoophyte; produced by zoophytes; Zoophytish a., having the character of a zoophyte; Zoophytist, a naturalist who studies zoophytes, a zoophytologist; Zoophytography, description of zoophytes; Zoophytoid a., resembling a zoophyte, or related to the zoophytes; Zoophytological a., pertaining to zoophytology; Zoophytologist, one versed in zoophytology; Zoophytology, that department of zoology which treats of zoophytes.
1838. Mantell, Wonders Geol., II. 468. In the flustra … we have the elements of *zoophytal organization.
1818. Q. Jrnl. Sci., V. 375. Molluscous and *zoophytic animals.
1830. Lyell, Princ. Geol., I. 128. The zoophytic, and shelly limestones … sometimes alternate with the rocks of mechanical origin.
1851. Richardson, Geol. (1855), 216. The ocean’s bed, on which the foundations of the zoophytic structure are laid.
1838. G. Johnston, Brit. Zooph., 8. Bernard de Jussieu and Guettard proceeded … to different parts of the coasts of France with the view of examining their *zoophytical productions.
1850. W. Scoresby, Cheever’s Whalem. Adv., iv. (1858), 53. Many of the zoophytical and molluscous orders.
1854. Chamb. Jrnl., 28 Oct., 280/1. When every marshy valley was the home of some human reptile or *zoophytish monster.
1862. Ansted, Channel Isl., II. ix. 242. Caverns … worthy the careful examination of the *zoophylist.
1736. Bailey (folio), Pref., *Zoophytography … a Treatise or Discourse of animal Plants, as Cockles, Muscles, Oysters.
1861. R. E. Grant, Tabular View Rec. Zool., 66. Physograda … *Zoophytoid.
1828–32. Webster, *Zoophytological.
1849–52. Todd’s Cycl. Anat., IV. 1307/1. The modern *Zoophytologist.
1828. Athenæum, 6 Aug., 651/1. *Zoophytology. Respiration of Animalcules.
1883. Knowledge, 13 July, 22/1. Ellis … has been called the father of English Zoophytology.
