Alcyonacea
/ˌæl.si.əˈneɪ.si.ə/noun
An order of soft corals characterized by fleshy, often branching colonies supported by microscopic skeletal elements.
Did you know?The name ultimately invokes the Greek halcyon, a legendary bird whose nesting was believed to create the calm ‘halcyon days’ around the winter solstice.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
ἁλκυών (alkyṓn)
“A kingfisher or halcyon bird, later surrounded by legends of calming the sea.”
Classical Latin
Latin
halcyon
“The halcyon or kingfisher, borrowed from Greek.”
1758
New Latin
Alcyonium
“A zoological genus name created by Linnaeus, referring to soft coral.”
19th Century
New Latin
Alcyonacea
“A taxonomic order name formed from Alcyonium with the zoological suffix -acea, meaning a group or order.”
Modern English
English
Alcyonacea
“The recognized order containing soft corals such as sea fans, sea pens, and leather corals.”