Chiefly pl. Forms: 5 fylaundris, 7 felanders, fillanders, -enders, fylanders, 6 filander(s. [a. OF. filandre:popular L. *filandula, dim. f. (lāna) fīlanda wool to be spun.
The word is used in mod.F. for a gossamer thread, also for various fibres in animal and vegetable organisms.]
In plural, Thread-like intestinal worms causing a disease in hawks; the disease so caused.
1486. Bk. St. Albans, B vij b. A medecyne for wormys in an hawke wiche sekenesse is called the Fylaundris.
1575. Turberv., Faulconrie, 252. These Filanders (as the very name doth import,) are smal as threedess, & one quarter of an ynche long.
1615. Latham, Falconry, 7. These occasions of extraordinary and vntimely heat, may breed the Cray, and ingender the fillanders.
a. 1682. Sir T. Browne, Hawks, Misc. Tracts, v. (1684), 115. This, if any, may probably destroy that obstinate Disease of the Filander or Back-worm.
1891. Harting, Gloss., in Biol. Accipitraria, 222. Filanders, intestinal worms.