combining form of Gr. ἐχῖνος, used (either in its original sense of ‘hedgehog,’ denoting something prickly, or in that of ‘sea-urchin,’ ECHINUS) to form compounds in scientific use. Echinococcus. Zool. [Gr. κόκκος seed-grain], a former genus of ACEPHALOCYSTS or hydatids, now known to be the scolex or higher larval form of a species of tapeworm, hence called Tænia Echinococcus (formerly T. nana). † Echinod, Obs., in 8 ekinod [Gr. ὀδ-ούς tooth], (see quot.). Echino-encrinite: see ENCRINITE.
1836–9. Todd, Cycl. Anat., II. 126, note. These may be considered rather as the Parasites of the *Echinococcus.
1878. Bell, trans. Gegenbaur’s Comp. Anat., 131. When the youngest of these can again bud off tænia-heads on its inner wall, we get the Echinococcus-form.
1708. in Phil. Trans., XXVI. 78. The *Ekinod or Fossil Tooth of the Sea-Urchin.
1850. Dana, Geol., App. i. 713. Encrinites, particularly the *echino-encrinites.
