Pl. -a. [mod.L., ad. Gr. ἀσκίδιον, dim. of ἀσκός leather bag, wine-skin.]
1. Zool. (Also Ascidia, pl. -æ.) A genus of tunicate mollusks, having the enveloping tunic elastic and leathery: see ASCIDIAN.
1766. Pennant, Zool., IV. 48 (Jod.). Ascidia, taken off Scarborough.
1856. Gosse, Marine Zool., II. 30. The Ascidiæ usually adhere to stones and old shells.
1878. Bell, Gegenbaurs Comp. Anat., 391. In many Ascidia a new individual buds from the body of the adult animal.
2. Bot. A pitcher-shaped leafy appendage.
1830. Lindley, Nat. Syst. Bot., 81. The presence of Ascidia, or pitchers among its leaves, resembling those of Nepenthes.