a. Obs. rare–1. [f. mod.L. anatifer-us (f. anas (anati-) duck + -ferus producing) + -OUS.] Producing ducks or geese; i.e., producing barnacles, formerly supposed to grow on trees, and dropping off into the water below, to turn to ‘Tree-geese’ (Pennant, II. 238), whence also the trivial name of the Barnacle Lepas anatifera. (Blount erron. refers the word to L. anās, defining it ‘that brings the disease or age of old women.’)
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., 133. Anatiferous trees, whose corruption breaks forth into Bernacles.
