cnida

cnida
Lasso Lass"o (l[a^]s"s[-o]) n.; pl. {Lassos} (-s[=o]z). [Sp. lazo, L. laqueus. See {Lace}.] A rope or long thong of leather with a running noose, used for catching horses, cattle, etc. [1913 Webster]

{Lasso cell} (Zo["o]l.), one of a peculiar kind of defensive and offensive stinging cells, found in great numbers in all c[oe]lenterates, and in a few animals of other groups. They are most highly developed in the tentacles of jellyfishes, hydroids, and Actini[ae]. Each of these cells is filled with, fluid, and contains a long, slender, often barbed, hollow thread coiled up within it. When the cell contracts the thread is quickly ejected, being at the same time turned inside out. The thread is able to penetrate the flesh of various small, soft-bodied animals, and carries a subtle poison by which they are speedily paralyzed and killed. The threads, at the same time, hold the prey in position, attached to the tentacles. Some of the jellyfishes, as the Portuguese man-of-war, and {Cyanea}, are able to penetrate the human skin, and inflict painful stings in the same way. Called also {nettling cell}, {cnida}, {cnidocell}. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Cnida — Cni da (n[imac] d[.a]), n.; pl. {Cnid[ae]} (n[imac] d[=e]). [NL., fr. Gr. kni dh nettle, sea nettle.] (Zo[ o]l.) One of the peculiar stinging cells found in C[oe]lenterata; a nematocyst; a lasso cell. [1913 Webster] || …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • cnida — n. [Gr. nema, thread; kystis, bladder] (CNIDARIA) Intracellular organelles that function in defense and capture of prey by injecting a toxin; in hydras, they function in adhesion to the bottom; also called stinging cells, nettle cells, or thread… …   Dictionary of invertebrate zoology

  • cnida — /nuy deuh/, n., pl. cnidae / dee/. Zool. a nematocyst. [1875 80; < L cnide nettle < Gk kníde] * * * …   Universalium

  • cnida — SYN: nematocyst. [G. knide, nettle] …   Medical dictionary

  • cnida — cni·da …   English syllables

  • cnida — cni•da [[t]ˈnaɪ də[/t]] n. pl. dae ( dē). zool. a nematocyst • Etymology: 1875–80; < L cnīdē nettle < Gk knidē …   From formal English to slang

  • cnida — …   Useful english dictionary

  • cnida cnidae — pl; see nematocyst …   Dictionary of invertebrate zoology

  • Cnidae — Cnida Cni da (n[imac] d[.a]), n.; pl. {Cnid[ae]} (n[imac] d[=e]). [NL., fr. Gr. kni dh nettle, sea nettle.] (Zo[ o]l.) One of the peculiar stinging cells found in C[oe]lenterata; a nematocyst; a lasso cell. [1913 Webster] || …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Cnidaria — Temporal range: 580–0 Ma …   Wikipedia

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