Word Study
Nostoc
WORDNET DICTIONARY
Noun Nostoc has 1 sense
CIDE DICTIONARY
Nostoc, prop. n. [F.].
A genus of algæ. The plants are composed of moniliform cells imbedded in a gelatinous substance. [1913 Webster]
" Nostoc commune is found on the ground, and is ordinarily not seen; but after a rain it swells up into a conspicuous jellylike mass, which was formerly supposed to have fallen from the sky, whence the popular names, fallen star and star jelly . Also called witches' butter ."
[1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
Nostoc, n. any gelatinous blue-green unicellular alga of the genus Nostoc, that can fix nitrogen from the atmosphere.
Etymology
name invented by Paracelsus
For further exploring for "Nostoc" in Webster Dictionary Online
