cnidocyst
noun
cni·do·cyst ˈnī-də-ˌsist 
plural cnidocysts
: nematocyst
The stinging cells, or cnidocysts, of sea anemones, jellyfish and other cnidarians work like tiny harpoons when triggered by physical contact.
Colin Barras
Colin Barras
Word History
Etymology
borrowed from German Cnidocyste, from Greek knī́dē "nettle, sea nettle" + German -o- -o- + -cyste -cyst — more at cnidarian
First Known Use
1888, in the meaning defined above
- the seventh-inning stretch
- the sex act
- the shaft
- the shakes
- the shape of things to come
- the shit hits the fan
- the shits
- the shoe is on the other foot
- the short end of the stick
- the short run
- the short term
- the shot put
- the show must go on
- the sick
- the sick and dying
- the sign of the cross
- the silent majority
- the silent treatment
- the silver screen
- the simple life
- the singular
- the sins of the fathers are visited upon the children
- the skinny
- the sky's the limit
- the slammer