coral

noun Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin corallium, from Greek korallion Date: 14th century 1. a. the calcareous or horny skeletal deposit produced by anthozoan or rarely hydrozoan polyps; especially a richly red precious coral secreted by a gorgonian (genus Corallium) b. a polyp or polyp colony together with its membranes and skeleton 2. a piece of coral and especially of red coral 3. a. a bright reddish ovary (as of a lobster or scallop) b. a deep pink • coral adjective • coralloid adjective