a. [f. L. corne-us horny (f. cornū horn) + -OUS.] Of the nature of horn, horny, horn-like. (Now only in technical use.)
Corneous membrane = CORNEA. Corneous lead = PHOSGENITE. Corneous mercury: horn-mercury or calomel.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., III. xviii. 153. Such as have corneous or horney eyes, as Lobsters and crustaceous animals.
1727. Bradley, Fam. Dict., I. s.v. Eye, The membranes are the conjunctive or white of the eye, the corneous.
a. 1834. Lamb, Vis. Horns, Misc. Wks. (1871), 378. Their old faces oddly adorned in front, with each man a certain corneous excrescence.
1846. Dana, Zooph., iii. § 12. Zoophytes have a very delicate corneous or cartilaginous exterior.
1873. Mivart, Elem. Anat., 102. The bony cores supporting the corneous sheaths of hollow-horned Ruminants.