Ascidian
/æsˈsɪdiən/noun
A marine tunicate, especially one with a saclike body and two siphons.
Did you know?The name was coined from Greek askidion, a diminutive of askos, “wine-skin” or “leather bag,” because ascidians look like small saclike containers attached to rocks.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
askos
“a wineskin, leather bag, or sack”
Ancient Greek
Greek
askidion
“a little wineskin or small sac”
Late 18th Century
Latin/Scientific
Ascidia
“a scientific genus/name applied to saclike sea animals”
Early 19th Century
English
ascidian
“a tunicate of the class Ascidiacea”