TARDIGRADA

‖Tar′di‐gra″da (?), n. pl. [[NL. See Tardigrade, a.]] 1. 1. (Zoöl.) A tribe of edentates comprising the sloths. They are noted for the slowness of their movements when on the ground. See Sloth, 3.
2. 2. (Zoöl.) An order of minute aquatic arachnids; — called also bear animalcules, sloth animalcules, and water bears.