hydraform

From hydra +‎ -form.

hydraform (comparative more hydraform, superlative most hydraform)

1. Alternative form of hydriform.
   • 1849, “Order I.—Hydroida.”, in D[avid] M[eredith] Reese, editor, Elements of Zoology, or Natural History of Animals (Chambers’ Educational Course; VI), New York, N.Y.: A[lfred] S[mith] Barnes & Co.;  […], →OCLC, Sub-Kingdom—Radiata, Class XXII (Polypifera), paragraph 899, page 507:

     These polyparies, formed by the association of hydraform polypes, are among the most graceful and elegant of all the structures with which this class presents us.

   • 1853 October, Thomas Williams, “On the Mechanism of Aquatic Respiration and on the Structure of the Organs of Breathing in Invertebrate Animals”, in P[rideaux] J[ohn] Selby, Charles C[ardale] Babington, J[ohn] H[utton] Balfour, Richard Taylor, editors, The Annals and Magazine of Natural History, […], second series, volume XII, number 70, London: […] Taylor and Francis, →ISSN, →OCLC, foonote ‡, page 245:

     If in the hydraform and tubularian zoophytes the tentacles are prolongations of the stomach, properly so called, zoophytes, as a class, might be ranged under two leading divisions; that 1st in which the tentacles are gastric, and 2nd that in which they are perigastric prolongations.

   • 1861, A. Ramsay, “Hydra Tuba. A Study for the Aquarium.”, in Recreative Science: A Record and Remembrancer of Intellectual Observation, volume II, London: Groombridge and Sons, […], →OCLC, page 55, column 1:

     But as very few Medusæ have been traced from their original hydraform state, the difficulty of classifying these Hydræ still exists, and the group of specifically distinct animals is still designated by the one name, Hydra tuba.

• “hydriform, adj.”, in OED Online ⁠, Oxford: Oxford University Press, launched 2000.