əˈnelədə, aˈ- noun plural
Usage: capitalized
Etymology: New Latin, from French annelés, subdivision of invertebrates proposed 1801 by Lamarck, literally, ringed ones (from plural of annelé, past participle of anneler to furnish or adorn with a ring or rings, from Middle French, from annel-, from Old French, from anel, annel ring, from Latin anellus small ring, diminutive of anus ring) + New Latin -ida — more at anus
: a phylum of typically elongated metameric animals having a voluminous true coelom, a closed vascular system usually containing hemoglobin-bearing blood, a double ventral nervous system with anterior cerebral ganglion and esophageal ring, paired nephridia in one or many segments, and appendages that when present are not jointed as in arthropods
• an·nel·i·dan -dən, -d ə n adjective or noun