noun
(also rhabdocele)
Zoology A turbellarian flatworm of the order Rhabdocoela, characterized by a straight, unbranched gut.
In some modern classifications Rhabdocoela is ranked as a subclass.
adjective
(also rhabdocele)
Zoology Of, relating to, or characteristic of the order Rhabdocoela; (more widely, of the gut of a flatworm) straight and unbranched.
Origin
Mid 19th century; earliest use found in Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. From scientific Latin Rhabdocoela, order name from post-classical Latin rhabdo- + ancient Greek κοῖλος hollow (also as noun, κοῖλον, cavity of the body) + scientific Latin -a.
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