mycoderma

• mycoderm

Nineteenth century. Appellativization from genus name Mycoderma, which was coined in 1822 as a scientific name for the putative genus of organisms in mother of vinegar; they were named thus under the belief that they were fungi (although in fermentation there may also be bacteria present besides the yeast), hence the combining form myco- (for more, see Wikipedia); by surface analysis, myco- +‎ derma, where the latter component refers to the "skin" formed on fermenting liquid.

mycoderma (plural mycodermata or mycodermas)

1. (archaic, biology, zymurgy, countable, uncountable) One of the forms in which microbes group themselves; a (microscopic or macroscopic) layer of motionless but living microbes united on the surface of the fluid in which they are developed, differing from the zoogloea stage by not having the intermediate mucous substance.
2. (archaic, biology, zymurgy, countable) A single microbe of (former) genus Mycoderma, as a denizen within a biofilm; a microscopic colony of such microbes, among many such colonies in a biofilm.
   • 1890, Emma S. Merritt, “Report of Committee on Histology and Microscopy. The role of bacteria in fermentation and putrefaction”, in Transactions of the Medical Society of the State of California‎^[2], volume 20: Session of 1890, page 205:

     The sugar is first decomposed by the anærobiotic yeast plant, and the residues which it leaves behind are consumed in their turn by the ærobiotic mycodermata. There are many other ways in which the sugar can be resolved into carbonic dioxide and water, but everywhere there is the same mixture of anærobiotic and ærobiotic organisms. But it is unnecessary to insist. Enough has already been said to show how the different hydrocarbons of a quantity of wort disappear.

Nineteenth century or earlier. By surface analysis, myco- +‎ derma, where myco- is an antiquated alternative spelling of muco- explained by the usual transliteration possibilities (y or u) for υ (u), Greek upsilon; as explained at mucus (English) from mucus (Latin), Ancient Greek words for mucus and mushrooms and sliminess were related.

mycoderma (plural mycodermata or mycodermas)

1. (obsolete, biology, medicine, countable, uncountable) Mucous membrane (mucosa).^[1]

• “mycoderma”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.