trichite

noun

trich·​ite

ˈtriˌkīt

plural -s

: a minute acicular body: such as

a

: a hairlike crystallite occurring singly or in clusters

b

: a hairlike siliceous spicule occurring in some sponges in fascicles

c

: one of the slender rods supporting the cytopharynx of some ciliated protozoans

Word History

Etymology

in sense a, from German trichit, from trich- + -it -ite; in sense b, from New Latin trichites, from trich- + -ites -ite; in sense c, probably from trich- + -ite

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