" Zoology . A zoophyte; an individual polyp of a zoophyte. Formerly: specifically an animal of a taxonomic division Phytozoa, which included some or all of the zoophytes. Now historical and rare", Mid 19th cent.; earliest use found in William T. Brande (1788–1866), chemist. From phyto- + -zoon, after post-classical Latin Phytozoa. Compare Italian fitozoo, and French phytozoaire.[phytozoon etymology, phytozoon origin, 英语词源]