concha 
into the raeatus. See cut under car. (li) A 
shell of bone, or a bone like a shell; a tnrlii- 
nated bone. 2. Same as much, (i. 3. [ML., > 
ill-'. i'iiHf/iir.] An old dry measure of Gascony 
and Navarre, alionl ."> pecks, Winchester mea- 
sure. Concha inferior, the inferior turliiaatcd bone ; 
the maxlUoturbuul. Concha superior, concha me- 
dia, the superior mill middle tiirbinated bones, tofethi i 
milking the ethuiotitrliiiial. 
Oonchacea (kong-ka'sf-W, H. /)/. [NL., < L. 
<-<>ii<-ltii, n shell (see couch), + -acea.] In De 
lilainville's arrangement (1K1!4), a family of bi- 
valve mollusks, approximating, but more com- 
prehensive than, Lamarck's Cnni-liii', coiitainini,' 
numerous genera now distributed in several 
families. 
Conchae (kong'ke), . pi. [NL., pi. of L. con- 
elm, a shell: see much.] 1 . A group of bivalve 
mollusks. (a) In the "Systemn Natural" of Liimieiis. 
the section of tlie '/' *'''' " rompi isiii ihe bivalvcu. (l>) 
III l,aaiaivk's system of coneholivy (Isoll-lHlB), a family 
of dimyiiriiin Ciiiu-hi.i' ru. comp(ed of the genera Vnuix, 
Cntlli'1-iit, Cilliiin ' till, Clli'inn. <>illillln'", ami 
Cin'lnx. (i-t lii Dcshaycs's system, kg] p limited to the 
genera Ci//i,-i 1,11. .(*/,/,-/>, and I', n".*. 
2. [/. c.] Plural of concha. 
Conchariidae (kong-ka-ri'i-de), n. pi. [NL., < 
diiHcliariniii + -ii/ir.] A family of tnpylean 
radiolarians, with a fenestrated shell, destitute 
of radial spicules, and composed of two smooth 
hemispherical or lenticular valves, the edges of 
whieh usually interlock by rows of teeth: typi- 
fii'il by the genus Com-liiiriiiiii. 
Concharium (kong-ka'ri-um). n. [NL., < Gr. 
Koyxi'l'i'"', dim. of A"},)-//, a shell: see cmirli.] 
The typical genus of the family Conchariii/n . 
conchate (kong'kat), a. [= Sp. conrhailo, < 
NL. conchntux, < L. concha, a shell: see conch 
and -afe'l.] Same as conchiform. M. C, Cooke. 
conchi, . Plural of conchus. 
Conchidse (kong'ki-de), n. pi. [NL.,< L. concha, 
a shell (see conch), 4- -id(K.] A family name 
proposed by Broderip (1839) for the Concha: of 
Lamarck and the Conchacea of De Blainville. 
conchifer (kong'ki-fer), n. [< NL. conchifer, 
< L. concha, shell, + ferrc = E. ftear 1 .] A mol- 
lusk of the class Conchifera. 
Conchifera (kong-kif'e-ra), H. pi. [NL., neut. 
pi. of couch if i T, shell-bearing: see conchifer.] 
1. In Lamarck's system of classification, head- 
less mollusks with bivalve shells : a loose syn- 
onym of Lamcllibranchiata, but including the 
brachiopods, which are now placed in a dif- 
ferent class. Disencumbered of the brachiopods, the 
CnHchifera correspond to the Acephala tettacea of Cuvier, 
or to the Lauu-llibi-ant'hiata of De Blainville and modern 
naturalists. Also called Conchophora, Acephala, Eiuluce- 
phala, Lipuccphata , and Pelwypoda. 
2. In Gegenbaur^s system of classification, one 
of two primary divisions of the Mollusca; the 
Mollusca of authors in general, exclusive of the 
Placophora or chitons. 
What led me most to unite all the Mollusca, with the ex- 
eepiiun of the Chitonido!, into one great division, to which 
I have given the name Conchifera, was the consideration 
that we must recognize the great significance of the shell 
as affecting the whole organization of these animals. 
Qryeiibaur, Comp. Anat. (trans.), p. 816. 
conchiferous (kon^-kif'e-rus), a. [As conchifer 
+ -ous.] 1. Provided with a shell, as a mol- 
lusk; testaceous. 2. Pertaining to or having 
the characters of the Conchifera; bivalve, as a 
inollusk ; lamellibranchiate. 
The conchiferowi or bivalve Acephala. 
R. Qarner, Mag. Kat. Hist., N. S., II. 679. 
3. Bearing or containing shells: as, "conchif- 
rroitx deposits," Darwin. 
conchiform (kong'ki-f6rm), a. [< L. concha, a 
shell, + forma, shape.] Shell-shaped; espe- 
cially, shaped like one valve of a bivalve shell ; 
specifically, in entom., semicircular and con- 
cavo-convex, as the tegulre or wing-covers in 
most Hymcnoptera. Also conchate. 
conchinamine (koug-kin'a-min), . [< 'con- 
china, a transposition of cinchona, + antine.] 
Same as i/i/iiiiilinninc. 
conchinine (kong'ki-nin), n. [< 'conchina, a 
transposition of cinchona, + -ine%.] Same as 
l/llillii/llir. 
conchiolin (kong-ki'o-lin), n. [< L. concha, a 
shell, + io(dinc) + -ol + -i2.] The organic 
residuum of a shell left after removal of the 
carbonate of lime by acids. Also conchyolin. 
This u as evidently originally a soft Embryonic Shell com- 
lned of eonoMoKn, and not of calcareous matter as in the 
Amnimini.lca. 
.1. Iliialt, Proc. Amer. Assoc. Adv. Scl., 1884, p. 328. 
i it;.-, 
conchitic (kong-kit'ik), . [< i-HHi-liiti- + -i>.] 
C<iiii)ic. M-d <if shells: containing shells in al>un- 
(Innce: applied to limestones and niiirblcs in 
which the remains of shells are a noticeable 
feature. l'ui/r. 
Oonchoderma (kong-ko-der'niii), a. [NL., < 
(ir. /.", (/,, shell. + itpfUt, skin.) A genus of 
lianiacles, of the family l.i /iinlnln : -nine as 
Oti'Hi. I', ririiiiln is a species often found at- 
tached to ships. I'. ilnmiiliK is a ( 'arilibcau 
form. 
ConchffiCiafkonc-ke'si-ii),/,. [ML., <Gr. n 
a shell, + oJ/cof, home".] A genus of oslra- 
eode crustaceans, of the family l/iilm-iiiir 
or constituting the type of a family r,, ,/, 
ciidte. ('. obtuMitu, a British species, is an ex- 
ample. 
Conchoeciidae (kong-ke-si'i-<le), " ;'. [NL., < 
I'oncliiii-in + -uln.} A family of ostracodcs, 
named from the genus (.'nnfhu-riu . 
concho-grass (kon'cho-gras), . A name some- 
t imes given to the 1'antcum Texanum, a Texan 
grass which is now cultivated in the south- 
ern United States and found to yield a large 
amount of valuable forage. 
Conchoid (kong'koid), n. and a. [= F. <-tm- 
choifle = It. concoirte = Sp. confoide, < Or. MJ; - 
XHttitjf, < K&YX>I, a shell, + tifof, form.] I. n. A 
plane curve invented by one Nicomedes, proba- 
bly in the second century before Christ, and 
defined by him as such that if a straight line 
be drawn from a certain fixed point, called the 
Conchoids ol Nicomedes. 
.l/.V Is the asymptote; P is the pole. The highest and lowest 
tranches form one conchoid having a crunode at A The branches 
nearest the asymptote form a conchoid having an acnode at /'. The 
dotted curves indicate the conchoid with a cusp at P. 
pole of the curve, to the curve, the part of the 
line intercepted between the curve and a fixed 
line (now called its asymptote) is always equal 
to a fixed distance. The conchoid was used to facili- 
tate the duplication of the cube. Its Cartesian equation is : 
It is a curve of the fourth order and of the sixth class, un- 
less it has a cusp at P, when it Is of the fifth class. It has a 
double point at the pole, and meets its asymptote at four 
consecutive points at infinity. It has two branches. 
II. a. Same as conchoidal. 
Its [serpentine's] hardness being about 3, and with a 
conchoid or splintery fracture. 
S. tf. Williaint, Applied Geology, p. 8. 
conchoidal (kong-koi'dal), a. [< conchoid + 
-al; = F. conchoidal, etc.] In mineral., having 
convex elevations and concave depressions like 
conchitet (kong'kit), n. [< Gr. Koyx^, a shelly 
marble (lit. shell-like), < n^'X'l, shell.] A fossil 
conch or shell. Bp. 
Conchoidal Fracture, In obsidian. 
shells: applied principally to such a surface 
produced by fracture, as exemplified in ob- 
sidian. 
Custards ... In which every stroke of the teaspoon left 
a smooth cvnchoidal surface like the fracture of chalcedony. 
O. If'. Iliilnut, Elsie Venner, vli. 
Concholepas (kong-kol'e-pas), n. [NL. (La- 
marck), < Gr. KAyx 1 !, 
shell, T ten-df, a lim- 
pet.] Agenusofgas- 
tropodous mollusks, 
of the family Bucci- 
nidce or whelks, hav- 
H ing a limpet-like 
shell, owing to the 
size of the aperture. 
The only species is 
r. jirruriana, of the 
west coast of South 
America, along which it is extensively used for 
food, 
conchological (kong-ko-loj'i-kal), a. [< <- 
chology + -ic-al.] Of or pertaining to conchol- 
ogy, or the scientific study of shells. 
concierge 
-JHH'r t.f o]M-ll hell rillllllln.' 11'irtll lltl'l S.. nth of the 
Illll. Mi-Ill 
'-le, II. II.:;. 
concholoffi8t(koug-kol'o-jist \, _ i. one\. 
nclmlogy. U. A nan.' -hells 
(family I'linrnln-). from their ulten attacliing 
other shells lo the man.'in> of their who! 
they grow. Also ca: '. See cut 
lllliic :'..//. 
COncholpgy (kong-kol'o-ji). n. [= Sp. rinu-liii- 
IIII/KI. ' <<i |n-uk: 
See -ollll/l/. } The science of shell-, mill >llell-tish. 
^ hell ll|..llll-ki \v. |e .|lj. IK 
!.. tin il I'll' ! 
tii'll illls I.e. -II ^J\..|| IM tlh' Ml II' till- 
lll"llllsks. ihr t.TII! n t u'll"i'-l'l . 
vv ore formerly di\t<i 
thi' i 
iiu I" 111' i.innl.. i .it j'.iif- i.f hl< h th< > ti 
conchometer (kong-kom'e-Wr), . [< <ir. M);^/, 
a shell, + /itTimv, a measure.] An instrument 
1'or measuring shells and the angles of their 
spii'i "iirlii/lnii/ii tcr. 
ConchometryC^ong-kom'e-tri), n. [< rinirtiiiiH- 
i ii r + -// :t .J The measurement of shells or 
their curves. Also ciirhi/litnni-lry. 
Cpnchophora (kong-kof'o-rft), . pi. [NL., < 
Ur. .", i .. a s|i,.|| (gee innrli), + -<p6iwf, < . 
= E. fcY'iir'.] Same as Comlnt'ii-ti, 1. ./. /'. 
Gray, \BSL 
conchospiral (k<iiig-k6-8pi'ral), n. [< L. concha, 
a shell, + spiral.] A variety of spiral curve 
characterizing certain shells, siyassie. 
conch-shell (kongk'shel), H. Same a conch. 
conchus (kong'kus \, .; pi. conchi (-ki). [NL., 
< Gr. ftuj^or, a shell, the upper part of the skull, 
the socket of the eye: see concli.} 1. The 
skull. 2. The orbit of the eye. 
conchylaceous, conchyliaceons (kong-ki-la'- 
shins. kong-kil-i-a'shius), a. [< concliylium + 
-/ii-iiins.} Pertaining to shells; resembling a 
shell: as, rtnu-lii/lumiiut impressions. 
conchylia, . Plural of conchylium. 
COnchyliated (koiijg-kiri-a-ted), a. [< conchyl- 
iutii + -n/t ' + -'/-.] Derived from shells or 
mollusks : applied to the coloring matter ob- 
tained from shell-bearing mollusks. 
The cotlffiiifinti'l .-uliinr comprehended a variety of 
shades, viz., that of the liclfotnipiiiii). as well u one of a 
deeper colour, that of the mallow, inclining to a full pur- 
ple, and that of the late violet, this last being the most 
vivid of all the conehiilinlfil tints. 
M. S. LomU, Edible British Mollusca (2d ed.), p. 203. 
conchyliologistt (kong-kil-i-ol'o-jist), n. [= F. 
conchyliolvyixtc = Pg. conchyliologixta ; as con- 
chy liolor/y + -ist. Cf. conchologist.] An obso- 
lete form of conchoJoijist. 
conchyliologyt (kong'-kil-i-ol'o-ji), n. [=F. con- 
chyliologic = Sp. conquilioloyia = Pg. conchy- 
liologia, < NL. 'concltyliologia, < Gr. Ktryx^ jov i 
conch (see conchylium), + -Aayia, < Afyttv, speak: 
see -ology, and cf. conchology.} An obsolete 
form of conehology. 
COnchyliometer(kong-kil-i-om'e-ter), n. [<Gr. 
Koy^t'/jov, a shell, + fiirpov, a measure.] Same 
as conchometer. 
conchyliometry (kong-kil-i-om'e-tri), w. [As 
conch yliometer + -// 3 .] Same as conchometry. 
conchyliomorphite (kong-kil'i-o-mdr'fit), n. 
K Gr. rayrMttn', a shell, + uoptii], form, + -ite 2 .] 
The fossilized cast of a shell from which the 
shell has disappeared. 
conchylious (kong-kil'i-us), a. [< conchylium 
+ -on*. ] Belonging or pertaining to the shelled 
or testaceous Mollusca. 
conchylium (koug-kiri-um), . ; pi. conchylia 
(-a). [= F. coquMf = Sp. conchil (cf. ML. con- 
cliile)= Pg. conchylio = It. concliiglia, cockii/lia 
= G. conchylic = Dan. konkylic l < L. (and NL.) 
conchylium, a shell, < Gr. noyjrr/jov, dim. of KO>- 
Xi^n, dim. of K6-)x'/, a shell : see conch, and cf. 
cockle?*.] The shell of a mollusk, in the widest 
sense ; a conch. 
COnciator (kon'si-a-tor), . [As if ML., < ML. 
conciare, refit, repair, adorn, for 'comptiare, 
var. of comptarc, freq. comptitare, adorn, < L. 
contptus, elegant, adorned: see compfi.] In 
glass-manuf., one who weighs and proportions 
the materials to be made into glass. 
concierge (F. pron. kfin-siarzh'), H. [F.,< OF. 
concierge, consierge, ciiiixiurip; cmiclierge, con- 
cerge, conxirge, rumcergc (> ML. concergius, con- 
sergius, also eona n/i / /.<, nmcifrgerius, Sp. con- 
serjc), of uncertain origin ; perhaps < ML. *eon- 
xrrrinx, a keeper, guardian, or 'cmisrrritim, a 
keeping, guarding, irreg. < L. iimxrrrarr, keep: 
see conserve.] In France, one who attends at 
the entrance of an edifice, public or private; 
a doorkeeper of a hotel, apartment-house, pris- 
on, etc. ; a janitor, male or female. 
