foraminifera

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Foraminifera \Fo*ram`i*nif"e*ra\, n. pl. [NL., fr. L. foramen,
   -aminis, a foramen + ferre to bear.] (Zool.)
   An extensive order of rhizopods which generally have a
   chambered calcareous shell formed by several united zooids.
   Many of them have perforated walls, whence the name. Some
   species are covered with sand. See {Rhizophoda}.
   [1913 Webster]