(n)minute freshwater crustacean having a round body enclosed in a transparent shell; moves about like a flea by means of hairy branched antennae, Syn.water flea
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English (GCIDE) v.0.53Collaborative International Dictionary (GCIDE)
n. [ Cf. F. daphnine. ] (Chem.) (a) A dark green bitter resin extracted from the mezereon (Daphne mezereum) and regarded as the essential principle of the plant. [ R. ] (b) A white, crystalline, bitter substance, regarded as a glucoside, and extracted from Daphne mezereum and Daphne alpina. [ 1913 Webster ]