— noctilucan , adj.
/nok'teuh looh"keuh/ , n. , pl. noctilucae /-see/ .
a dinoflagellate of the genus Noctiluca, capable of producing light and, in groups, of causing a luminous appearance of the sea.
[ 1670-80; noctiluca shiner by night, equiv. to nocti- NOCTI- + -luca shiner, deriv. of lucere to shine ]