† merosomen.
Zoology. Obsolete.
Each of the segments of a segmented animal; a somite.
ΚΠ
1873 A. Wilson Elem. Zool. i. ii. 22 In ‘zonal’ symmetry the merosomes are arranged in zones, one after another, in a longitudinal axis.
1891 New Sydenham Soc. Lexicon Merosome, a segment of the body of a segmented animal.
1927–9 H. Wheeler Waverley Children's Dict. V. 2741/1 If the body of a worm is examined it will be seen to consist of a succession of rings, each of which is a merosome.
Derivatives
merosomal adj. rare
ΚΠ
1890 Cent. Dict. Merosomal, of the nature of a merosome.
1927–9 H. Wheeler Waverley Children's Dict. V. 2741/1 A leech also has a merosomal body.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2001; most recently modified version published online June 2018).
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n.1873