a. and sb. Zool. [f. mod.L. Thaliācea (f. Thalia: see prec. 3) + -AN.] a. adj. Of or pertaining to the Thaliacea, an order of tunicates, including the Salpidæ, etc. b. sb. A member of this order.
[1888. Rolleston & Jackson, Anim. Life, 441. The Thaliacea are free-swimming, and more or less barrel-shaped…. The test is very thin and delicate…. The muscle fibres … [are] arranged in circular hoops round the barrel-shaped body.]
