[f. mod.L. zōologia ZOOLOGY + -IST; cf. zoologer.] One versed in zoology; a scientist who studies or treats of animals.

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1663.  Boyle, Usef. Exp. Nat. Philos., II. ii. 46. The … liberty of making those Experiments in live Beasts … may enable a Zoologist … to determine divers Pathologicall difficulties.

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1752.  J. Hill, Hist. Anim., 531. This has been described … under the name of the Mus Africanus Hayopolin dictus. Most of the zoologists have omitted it.

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1773.  Johnson, Lett. to Mrs. Thrale, 21 Sept. Nor have I seen any thing that interested me as a zoologist, except an otter.

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1870.  Newman, Gram. Assent, II. viii. 253. The proverb says, ‘Ex pede Herculem’; and we have actual experience how the practised zoologist can build up some intricate organization from the sight of its smallest bone.

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