alcyonium

[Lat. Alcyoneum medic a men , or simply alcyoneum , or alcyonium . Gr. ἀλκυόνειον (alkuoneion) and ἀλκυόνιον ( alkuonion ) = bastard sponge, a zoophyte: from ἀλκυών ( alkuōn ) = the kingfisher, the nest of which it was supposed to resemble.] Zool. A genus of Polypes, the typical one of the family Alcyonidæ. It contains two British species, A. digitatum , or Sea-finger, known to fishermen as Dead Men's Fingers, Dead Men's Toes, and Cow's Paps; and A. glomera tum .