Also 7–8 folliacle, 8–9 FOLLICULE. [ad. L. folliculus little bag, dim. of follis bellows.]
1. Anat. A small sac. Chiefly, ‘a simple lymphatic gland, consisting of lymphoid tissue arranged in the form of a sac.’ (Syd. Soc. Lex.).
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., III. ii. 108. Although there be no eminent and circular follicle, no round bagge or vesicle which long containeth this humor.
1748. Hartley, Observations on Man, I. ii. 117. Gall-bladder, Follicles, and Ducts of the Glands.
1830. R. Knox, Béclard’s Anat., 38. The stomach is composed of three parts, more or less distinct; the crop, which is sometimes wanting; the membranous stomach, furnished with numerous secreting follicles; and the gizzard, which is provided with powerful muscles, and lined with a coriaceous membrane.
1842. Prichard, Nat. Hist. Man, 95. The hair issues from follicles, by a club-shaped root or bulb, compared to a bud (keim), which is thicker than the filament of the hair.
b. = COD sb.1 4 b.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., III. iv. 113. These Cods or Follicles are found in both Sexes, though somewhat more protuberant in the Male.
[1812. J. Smyth, Pract. Customs (1821), 64. Castor.—This is a substance secreted in a follicle situated near the anus of the beaver, perhaps the inguinal gland.]
2. Bot. ‘A kind of fruit, consisting of a single carpel, dehiscing by the ventral suture only’ (Lindley); formerly used for any kind of capsular fruit.
a. 1706. Evelyn, Sylva, xi. (1729), 65. They [the Maples] are all produced of Seeds contained in the Folliacles and Keys, or Birds-Tongues (as they are called).
1785. Martyn, Rousseau’s Bot., xvi. 213. In most of the genera these fruits are follicles.
1877. F. E. Hulme, Wild Fl., Ser. I. p. x. Fruit a follicle of two elongated capsules, many-seeded.
b. A small bag or vesicle distended with air.
1793. Martyn, Lang. Bot., s.v. Folliculus.… Follicles (folliculi) are vessels distended with air: as at the root in Utricularia, and on the leaves in Aldrovanda.
1816–20. Green, Herbal, II. 784/1. In the middle of the scape, and at the surface of the water, are from four to six ovate, ciliate, two-celled follicles in whorls, in order to support the scape in the water.
1863. Berkeley, Brit. Mosses, Gloss., 312/1. Follicle, a little bladder on the leaves, as in Pottia cavifolia.
3. Entom. A cocoon; the covering made by a larva for its protection during the pupa state.
1856–8. W. Clark, Van der Hoeven’s Zool., I. 397. Pupa inclosed in a thin follicle.
