alcyon

noun

al·​cy·​on

ˈal-sē-ən

plural -s

: a soft coral of Alcyonium or a related genus

Word History

Etymology

New Latin Alcyonium, genus of soft corals, from Greek alkyoneion, alkyonion, a zoophyte, from neuter of alkyoneios of a kingfisher, from alkyōn kingfisher; from its resemblance to a kingfisher's nest

First Known Use

1862, in the meaning defined above

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