See Also: nematocyst(medicine)
nematocyst(dictionary)

nematocyst (iou)



nematocyst noun. L19.
[formed as NEMATOCIDE + CYST.]
Zoology. A small organ contained in cells on the body surface of jellyfishes and other coelenterates, containing a coiled thread, freq. barbed or poisoned, which is ejected as a defence or to capture prey. Also called lasso-cell, thread-cell.