1940s; earliest use found in Journal of Paleontology. From Rotali- + -id, after scientific Latin Rotaliidae, family name. Compare scientific Latin Rotaliida, order name.
Definition of rotaliid in US English:
rotaliid
adjectiverəʊˈteɪliˌɪd
Zoology
= rotalid.
nounrəʊˈteɪliˌɪd
Zoology
= rotalid.
Origin
1940s; earliest use found in Journal of Paleontology. From Rotali- + -id, after scientific Latin Rotaliidae, family name. Compare scientific Latin Rotaliida, order name.