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||Spon"gi*æ (?), n. pl. [See Sponge.] (Zoöl.) The grand division of the
||animal kingdom which includes the sponges; -- called also Spongida,
||Spongiaria, Spongiozoa, and Porifera.
In the Spongiæ, the soft sarcode of the body is usually supported by a
skeleton consisting of horny fibers, or of silleceous or calcareous
spicules. The common sponges contain larger and smaller cavities and
canals, and numerous small ampullæ which which are lined with ciliated
cells capable of taking in solid food. The outer surface usually has
minute pores through which water enters, and large openings for its
exit. Sponges produce eggs and spermatozoa, and the egg when fertilized
undergoes segmentation to form a ciliated embryo.
||Spon"gi*da (?), n. pl. [NL.] Spongiæ.
Spon"gi*form (?), a. Resembling a sponge; soft and porous; porous.
||Spon*gil"la (?), n. [NL., dim. of spongia a sponge.] (Zoöl.) A genus
||of siliceous spongea found in fresh water.
Spon"gin (?), n. (Physiol. Chem.) The chemical basis of sponge tissue,
a nitrogenous, hornlike substance which on decomposition with sulphuric
acid yields leucin and glycocoll.
Spon"gi*ness (?), n. The quality or state of being spongy. Dr. H. More.
Spon"ging (?), a. & n. from Sponge, v.
Sponging house (Eng. Law), a bailiff's or other house in which debtors
are put before being taken to jail, or until they compromise with their
creditors. At these houses extortionate charges are commonly made for
food, lodging, etc.
Spon"gi*ole (?; 277), n. [L. spongiola a rose gall, small roots, dim.
of spongia: cf. F. spongiole.] (Bot.) A supposed spongelike expansion
of the tip of a rootlet for absorbing water; -- called also spongelet.
Spon"gi*o*lite (?), n. [Gr. &?; sponge + -lite.] (Paleon.) One of the
microsporic siliceous spicules which occur abundantly in the texture of
sponges, and are sometimes found fossil, as in flints.
Spon`gi*o*pi"lin (?), n. [Gr. &?;, dim. of &?; a sponge + &?; felt.]
(Med.) A kind of cloth interwoven with small pieces of sponge and
rendered waterproof on one side by a covering of rubber. When moistend
with hot water it is used as a poultice.
{ Spon"gi*ose` (?), Spon"gi*ous (?) }, a. [L. spongious, spongeosus:
cf. F. spongieux. See Sponge.] Somewhat spongy; spongelike; full of
small cavities like sponge; as, spongious bones.
||Spon`gi*o*zo"a (?), n. pl. [NL., Gr. &?; sponge + &?; an animal.]
||(Zoöl.) See Sponglæ.
Spon"go*blast (?), n. [Gr. &?; sponge + -blast.] (Zoöl.) One of the
cells which, in sponges, secrete the spongin, or the material of the
horny fibers.
Spon"goid (?; 277), a. [Gr. &?; sponge + -oid.] Resembling sponge; like
sponge.
Spon"gy (?), a. 1. Soft, and full of cavities; of an open, loose,
pliable texture; as, a spongy excrescence; spongy earth; spongy cake;
spongy bones.
2. Wet; drenched; soaked and soft, like sponge; rainy. "Spongy April."
Shak.