Zool. Pl. -ia. [mod.L., f. Gr. ζῴον animal + οἷκος house.] The thickened and hardened part of the cuticle of each zooid or polyp of a colony of Polyzoa, forming a cell or sheath in which it is lodged. Hence Zoœcial a., pertaining to or forming a zoœcium.
1880. Pascoe, Zool. Class., 297. Zoœcium, a cell in which a polypide of the Polyzoa is lodged.
1881. Jrnl. Microsc. Sci., Jan., 2. The avicularia are placed in the outer border of the Zoœcia.
1884. Athenæum, 29 March, 414. The zooecial tube.
