branchia n 1: respiratory organ of aquatic animals that breathe oxygen dissolved in water [syn: {gill}, {branchia}]
Branchia \Bran"chi*a\, n.; pl. {Branchi[ae]}. [L., fr. Gr. ?, pl. of ?.] (Anat.) A gill; a respiratory organ for breathing the air contained in water, such as many aquatic and semiaquatic animals have. [1913 Webster]