Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Physalia
‖
Phy-sa′li-a
,p
rop.
Noun.
[NL., fr. Gr.
φυσαλλίσ
a bladder, fr. φῦσα
a bellows.] (Zool.)
A genus of large oceanic Siphonophora which includes the
Portuguese man-of-war
. ☞ 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 (
Physalia arethusa
) 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.