before a vowel staur-, combining form of Gr. σταυρός cross, employed in several terms, chiefly scientific. Stauractin(e [Gr. ἀκτιν-, ἀκτίς ray], ‘hexactinellid spicules of the dermal sponge-layer in which two of the arms are atrophied, leaving the remaining four in the form of a cross’ (Cent. Dict. Suppl., 1909). Staurobaryte Min., an obsolete synonym of HARMOTOME (Chester, Dict. Min., 1896). Staurology nonce-wd., a science or doctrine of the cross. Stauro-microscope (see quots.). Staurotypous a. Min. [Gr. τύπος TYPE sb.; cf. eccl, Gr. σταυρότυπος marked with the sign of the cross], ‘having mackles or spots in the form of a cross’ (Ogilvie, 1850).
1905. Jrnl. R. Micros. Soc., April, 190. The earliest regular form of spicule was the *stauractine.
1893. C. T. Cruttwell, Lit. Hist. Early Christianity, I. 53. Justin, who presses nearly every allusion to a tree or a piece of wood into the service of a mechanical *Staurology.
1879. Rutley, Stud. Rocks, ix. 75. For the purpose of investigating the optical properties of minerals various instruments, such as … the stauroscope,… Rosenbusch’s *stauro-microscope, &c., have from time to time been devised.
1843. Chapman, Pract. Min., 190. *Staurotypous kouphone spar.
