A-brăn'chi-an, n.

n. [Gr. à priv. and βράγχος, βρόγχος, βράγχιον, βρόγχιον, pl. βράγχια, βρόγχια, branchiæ, the gills of fishes.] (Zool.) One of an order of annelids, so called because the species composing it, including worms and leeches, have no external organs of respiration. Brande.