arbacia

noun

ar·​ba·​cia

ärˈbāsēə

1

capitalized : a genus of sea urchins (order Centrechinoida) having the ambulacral plates with three pairs of pores, the periproct covered by four triangular plates, the test rather low and stout, and the spines short with those near the mouth having enameled flattened tips

2

plural -s : a sea urchin of the genus Arbacia

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin, perhaps from Arbaces, legendary ninth century b.c. Median general (borrowed from Greek Arbákēs) + -ia -ia

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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