from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Noctiluca \Noc`ti*lu"ca\, n.; pl. {Noctilucae}. [L. noctiluca
something that shines by night, fr. nox, noctis, night +
lucere to shine, lux light.]
1. (Old Chem.) That which shines at night; -- a fanciful name
for phosphorus.
[1913 Webster]
2. (Zool.) A genus of marine flagellate Infusoria, remarkable
for their unusually large size and complex structure, as
well as for their phosphorescence. The brilliant diffuse
phosphorescence of the sea is often due to myriads of
Noctilucae.
[1913 Webster]