Tu"ni*ca*ry (?), n.; pl. Tunicaries (#). [L. tunica a tunic.] (Zoöl.)
One of the Tunicata.
||Tu`ni*ca"ta (?), n. pl. [NL. See Tunicate.] (Zoöl.) A grand division
||of the animal kingdom, intermediate, in some respects, between the
||invertebrates and vertebrates, and by some writers united with the
||latter. They were formerly classed with acephalous mollusks. The body
||is usually covered with a firm external tunic, consisting in part of
||cellulose, and having two openings, one for the entrance and one for
||the exit of water. The pharynx is usually dilated in the form of a
||sac, pierced by several series of ciliated slits, and serves as a
||gill.
||
Most of the species when mature are firmly attached to foreign
substances, but have free-swimming larvæ which are furnished with an
elongated tail and somewhat resemble a tadpole. In this state the larva
has a urochord and certain other structures resembling some embryonic
vertebrates. See Ascidian, Doliolum, Salpa, Urochord, and Illust. of
Social ascidian, under Social.
{ Tu"ni*cate (?), Tu"ni*ca`ted (?), } a. [L. tunicatus, p. p. of
tunicare to clothe with a tunic, fr. tunica a tunic.] 1. (Bot.) Covered
with a tunic; covered or coated with layers; as, a tunicated bulb.
2. (Zoöl.) (a) Having a tunic, or mantle; of or pertaining to the
Tunicata. (b) Having each joint buried in the preceding funnel- shaped
one, as in certain antennæ of insects.
Tu"ni*cate (?), n. (Zoöl.) One of the Tunicata.
Tu"ni*cin (?), n. (Physiol. Chem.) Animal cellulose; a substance
present in the mantle, or tunic, of the Tunicates, which resembles, or
is identical with, the cellulose of the vegetable kingdom.
Tu"ni*cle (?), n. [L. tunicula a little tunic, coat, or membrane, dim.
of tunica a tunic: cf. OF. tunicle.] 1. A slight natural covering; an
integument.
The tunicles that make the ball or apple of the eye.
Holland.
2. (R. C. Ch.) A short, close-fitting vestment worn by bishops under
the dalmatic, and by subdeacons.
Tun"ing (?), a. & n. from Tune, v.
Tuning fork (Mus.), a steel instrument consisting of two prongs and a
handle, which, being struck, gives a certain fixed tone. It is used for
tuning instruments, or for ascertaining the pitch of tunes.