Etymology

zoophyte

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Today it means: An animal thought to have the characteristics of a plant, later specifically an invertebrate of the (former) group Zoophyta, comprising sponges, corals and sea anemones. Full definition →

First used 17th c.Middle French zoophyte
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The story

  1. Middle French · derived fromzoophyte
  2. English todayzoophyte

From zoo- + -phyte, after Middle French zoophyte; later reinforced by scientific Latin Zoophyta.

First known use, by meaning

  • from 17th c. An animal thought to have the characteristics of a plant, later specifically an invertebrate of the (former) group Zoophyta, comprising sponges, corals and sea anemones.
  • from 17th c. A plant believed to have the characteristics of an animal, especially a sensitive plant or vegetable lamb.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.