Venus's girdle

American  

noun

1. an iridescent blue-and-green comb jelly, Cestum veneris, having a ribbon-shaped, gelatinous body.

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Venus's-girdle British  

noun

1. a ctenophore, Cestum veneris, of warm seas, having an elongated ribbon-like body

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Etymology

Origin of Venus's girdle

First recorded in 1865–70

Example Sentences

Venus’s girdle, a species of comb jelly, or ctenophore.

From Scientific American

Chamisso got it near Behring's Straits and thought that it was more nearly allied to "Venus's Girdle," a Cœlenterate.

From Project Gutenberg

Not Venus's girdle even was supposed to confer greater charms than the Girnachgowl collar.

From Project Gutenberg

And Miss Arabella Falconer, too, could boast her conquests, though nobody merely by looking at her would have guessed it: but she was a striking exemplification of the truth of Lady Jane Granville's maxim, that fashion, like Venus's girdle, can beautify any girl, let her be ever so ugly.

From Project Gutenberg

If any Wench Venus's Girdle wear, Though she be never so ugly; Lilies and Roses will quickly appear, And her Face look wond'rous smugly.

From Project Gutenberg