Zool. and Palæont. Pl. -æ, also -as. Also (after F.) terebratule. [mod.L. (Llwyd, 1699), quasi- dim. of L. terebrātus, fem. -a, pa. pple. of terebrāre to bore. So F. térébratule.] A genus of brachiopods, mostly extinct: so called from the perforated beak of the ventral valve. Formerly used more widely to include any (esp. fossil) members of the Terebratulidæ and related families; the lamp-shells.
1822. J. Flint, Lett. Amer., 102. Limestone … is literally conglomerated with organic remains. Amongst these, the most remarkable is a species of terebratula.
1822. J. Parkinson, Outl. Oryctol., 250. Some of the multilocular univalves, and of the terebratulas.
1851. Woodward, Mollusca, I. 12. Deepest of all, the terebratulæ are found, commonly at fifty … and sometimes at one hundred fathoms, even in Polar seas.
1853. Th. Ross, Humboldt’s Trav., III. xxix. 165. Petrifactions of pecten, cardites, terebratules, and madrepores.
Hence Terebratular a., of or pertaining to a terebratula; Terebratuliform a., having the form of a terebratula; Terebratuline a., belonging to or having the character of the Terebratulidæ; Terebratulite, a fossil Terebratula or lamp-shell; Terebratuloid, a. resembling or related to the genus Terebratula; sb. a species or congener of this genus.
1822. J. Parkinson, Outl. Oryctol., 334. In the masses of mountain limestone … are immense accumulations of crinoideal and *terebratular remains.
1864. Webster, *Terebratuliform, having the general form of terebratula shell.
1891. Cent. Dict., *Terebratuline.
1830. Lyell, Princ. Geol., I. 127. A great calcareous formation,… in which are included coral-lines, productæ, *terebratulites, &c.
1853. Th. Ross, Humboldt’s Trav., III. xxix. 166, note. The ‘Roche à ravets’ of Martinique and Hayti … is … filled with terebratulites, and other vestiges of sea-shells.
1895. F. R. C. Reed, Brachiopods (Fossil), in Camb. Nat. Hist., III. 512. The *Terebratuloids can be traced back to the primitive type Renssoellaria.
