Bryozoan
/ˌbraɪ.əˈzoʊ.ən/noun
Any of a group of small aquatic invertebrates that live in colonies and feed by means of a crown of ciliated tentacles.
Did you know?The word was coined in 1831 from Greek roots, and it reflects a classic scientific naming pattern: turning eerie living forms into hybrid names that sound almost magical.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
bryon
“moss, seaweed, or something moss-like”
Ancient Greek
Greek
zōion
“animal, living creature”
1831
English
bryozoa
“scientific plural name for a group of colonial aquatic animals”
Modern English
English
bryozoan
“a member of the phylum Bryozoa”