sb. pl. Zool. [mod.L. neut. pl. of prec.] An order of Rhizopoda, furnished with a shell or test, usually perforated by pores (foramina).
1835–6. Todd, Cycl. Anat., I. 518/1, note. But M. D’Orbigny, observing that the chambers of their shells communicate together by means of one or more formina, has substituted the positive term Foraminifera.
1882. Geikie, Text-bk. Geol., VI. iv. § 1. 838. In some places it [nummulitic limestone] is composed mainly of foraminifera.
