a. [ad. L. folliculār-is, f. folliculus: see FOLLICLE and -AR1.]
1. Of the nature of, or resembling, a follicle; composed or consisting of follicles; also, provided with follicles.
1677. Plot, Oxfordsh., 305–6. Many other strong scented Animals … have follicular Repositories or Bags, near the exit of the Intestinum rectum, wherein they keep those humors or liquors, that are the Vehicles of their respective scents.
1750. Phil. Trans., XLVII. 99. To the exterior wrinkles, and to the whole outward surface of the hard part of the coral there is closely attached a white or pale pellicle which is pretty soft, and composed of vascular and follicular minute membranes, which, by their interlacing, form a reticular body.
1830. Lindley, Nat. Syst. Bot., 6. Fruit either consisting of dry nuts or caryopsides, or baccate with one or more seeds, or follicular with one or two valves.
1835–6. Todd, Cycl. Anat., I. 23–4. Whereas the older anatomists generally leaned to the opinion of the follicular structure of the glands, the moderns have more frequently adopted the hypothesis of their vascular texture.
1870. Hooker, Stud. Flora, p. xiii. Crassulaceæ… Fruit follicular.
2. Of or pertaining to a follicle or follicles.
1877. Coues, Fur Anim., i. 14 An enormous reservoir, with a dense resisting fibrous coat, always containing a considerable quantity of the follicular product.
b. Path. Of a disease: Affecting the follicles of a particular organ.
1859. J. Tomes, Dental Surg., 508. Follicular stomatitis is commonly associated with eruptions about the face and lips.
1877. Roberts, Handbk. Med. (ed. 3), I. 299. Follicular pharyngitis is often associated with stomach-disorders.
3. In etymol. sense: Of or pertaining to bellows; performed by means of bellows. nouce-use.
1676. Shadwell, Virtuoso, II. Wks. 1720, I. 343. An animal may be preserved without Respiration, when the Wind-pipe’s cut in two, by follicular impulsion of Air; to wit, by blowing Wind with a pair of Bellows into the Lungs.
