a. and sb. Zool. [ad. mod.L. tetrabranchiāt-um: see prec. and -ATE2 2.] a. adj. Belonging to the Tetrabranchiata, an order of cephalopods (mostly extinct) having four branchiæ or gills. b. sb. A cephalopod belonging to this order; a tetrabranch.
18356. Todds Cycl. Anat., I. 557/1. The Sepia manifests a near affinity to the Tetrabranchiate order.
1851. Woodward, Mollusca, I. 78. The shell of the tetrabranchiate cephalopods is an extremely elongated cone.
1872. Nicholson, Palæont., 189. The Tetrabranchiate forms, with chambered shells, attained their maximum in the Silurian period.