sea sawdust

English

Etymology

Coined by sailors on Captain James Cook's 1768-71 voyage (his first voyage) to the south seas and Australia.

Noun

sea sawdust (uncountable)

1. Marine blue-green algae (cyanobacteria, actually brown coloured) of the genus Trichodesmium.
   • 1770, The Endeavour Journal of Sir Joseph Banks at Project Gutenberg Australia

     The seamen who are now convinc'd that it was not as they had thought the spawn of fish began to call it Sea sawdust, a name certainly not ill adapted to its appearance.