An elongated structure often found on underwater shipwrecks, somewhat like a stalactite or icicle in appearance, consisting of microbial and fungal growths inside a layer of iron oxide.
Origin
1980s; earliest use found in Science. From rust + -icle. Coined by R. D. Ballard.
Definition of rusticle in US English:
rusticle
nounˈrʌstɪkl
An elongated structure often found on underwater shipwrecks, somewhat like a stalactite or icicle in appearance, consisting of microbial and fungal growths inside a layer of iron oxide.
Origin
1980s; earliest use found in Science. From rust + -icle. Coined by R. D. Ballard.