Ianthinas

Ianthinas
Ianthina I*an"thi*na, n.; pl. L. {Ianthin[ae]}, E. {Ianthinas}. [NL., fr. L. ianthinus violet-blue, Gr. ?; ? violet + ? flower.] (Zo["o]l.) Any gastropod of the genus {Ianthina}, of which various species are found living in mid ocean; -- called also {purple shell}, and {violet snail}. [Written also {janthina}.] [1913 Webster]

Note: It floats at the surface by means of a raft, which it constructs by forming and uniting together air bubbles of hardened mucus. The Tyrian purple of the ancients was obtained in part from mollusks of this genus. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Ianthina — I*an thi*na, n.; pl. L. {Ianthin[ae]}, E. {Ianthinas}. [NL., fr. L. ianthinus violet blue, Gr. ?; ? violet + ? flower.] (Zo[ o]l.) Any gastropod of the genus {Ianthina}, of which various species are found living in mid ocean; called also {purple… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Ianthinae — Ianthina I*an thi*na, n.; pl. L. {Ianthin[ae]}, E. {Ianthinas}. [NL., fr. L. ianthinus violet blue, Gr. ?; ? violet + ? flower.] (Zo[ o]l.) Any gastropod of the genus {Ianthina}, of which various species are found living in mid ocean; called also …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • janthina — Ianthina I*an thi*na, n.; pl. L. {Ianthin[ae]}, E. {Ianthinas}. [NL., fr. L. ianthinus violet blue, Gr. ?; ? violet + ? flower.] (Zo[ o]l.) Any gastropod of the genus {Ianthina}, of which various species are found living in mid ocean; called also …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • purple shell — Ianthina I*an thi*na, n.; pl. L. {Ianthin[ae]}, E. {Ianthinas}. [NL., fr. L. ianthinus violet blue, Gr. ?; ? violet + ? flower.] (Zo[ o]l.) Any gastropod of the genus {Ianthina}, of which various species are found living in mid ocean; called also …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • violet snail — Ianthina I*an thi*na, n.; pl. L. {Ianthin[ae]}, E. {Ianthinas}. [NL., fr. L. ianthinus violet blue, Gr. ?; ? violet + ? flower.] (Zo[ o]l.) Any gastropod of the genus {Ianthina}, of which various species are found living in mid ocean; called also …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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