Word Meanings - PHYSALIA - Book Publishers vocabulary database

A genus of large oceanic Siphonophora which includes the Portuguese man-of-war. Note: It has a large air sac, or float, with a sail-like crest on its upper side. Numerous zooids of different kinds are attached to the under side of the float. Some

Additional info about word: PHYSALIA

A genus of large oceanic Siphonophora which includes the Portuguese man-of-war. Note: It has a large air sac, or float, with a sail-like crest on its upper side. Numerous zooids of different kinds are attached to the under side of the float. Some of the zooids have very long tentacles; some have a mouth and digest food; others produce gonophores. The American species is brilliantly colored, the float being pink or purple, and bright blue; the zooids blue. It is noted for its virulent stinging powers, as well as for its beautiful colors, graceful motions, and its ability to sail to windward.

Related words: (words related to PHYSALIA)

• UNDERDOER
  One who underdoes; a shirk.
• UNDERBRED
  Not thoroughly bred; ill-bred; as, an underbred fellow. Goldsmith.
• UNDERSECRETARY
  A secretary who is subordinate to the chief secretary; an assistant secretary; as, an undersecretary of the Treasury.
• UNDERPLOT
  1. A series of events in a play, proceeding collaterally with the main story, and subservient to it. Dryden. 2. A clandestine scheme; a trick. Addison.
• UNDERNICENESS
  A want of niceness; indelicacy; impropriety.
• UNDERSOIL
  The soil beneath the surface; understratum; subsoil.
• UNDERDOLVEN
  p. p. of Underdelve.
• UNDERPROP
  To prop from beneath; to put a prop under; to support; to uphold. Underprop the head that bears the crown. Fenton.
• UNDERNIME
  1. To receive; to perceive. He the savor undernom Which that the roses and the lilies cast. Chaucer. 2. To reprove; to reprehend. Piers Plowman.
• UNDERCREST
  To support as a crest; to bear. Shak.
• UNDERGROUND INSURANCE
  Wildcat insurance.
• UNDERSAY
  To say by way of derogation or contradiction. Spenser.
• DIFFERENTIALLY
  In the way of differentiation.
• UNDERTAPSTER
  Assistant to a tapster.
• UNDERDELVE
  To delve under.
• UNDERSTOOD
  imp. & p. p. of Understand.
• UNDERDO
  To do less than is requisite or proper; -- opposed to overdo. Grew.
• UNDERCOAT
  1. A coat worn under another; a light coat, as distinguished from an overcoat, or a greatcoat. 2. A growth of short hair or fur partially concealed by a longer growth; as, a dog's undercoat.
• UNDERCAST
  To cast under or beneath.
• UNDERRATE
  A price less than the value; as, to sell a thing at an underrate. Cowley.
• PLUNDERER
  One who plunders or pillages.
• INNUMEROUS
  Innumerable. Milton.
• DUNDERHEAD
  A dunce; a numskull; a blockhead. Beau. & Fl.
• TEN-POUNDER
  A large oceanic fish found in the tropical parts of all the oceans. It is used chiefly for bait.