acanthella

noun

ac·​an·​thel·​la

-ˈthelə

plural acanthellas

-ləz

also acanthellae

-(ˌ)lē

1

: a transitional larva of the acanthocephalan intermediate between the acanthor and the juvenile infective form

called also preacanthella

2

: the juvenile infective form of an acanthocephalan

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from acanth- (from Acanthocephala) + -ella

First Known Use

1935, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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