malacology

noun

Etymology: From French malacologie, contraction of malacozoologie, from the (obsolete) taxonomic name Malacozoa + French -ologie (“-ology”), Malacozoa being in turn from Ancient Greek μαλακός (malakós, “soft”) + ζῷον (zōîon, “animal”). Equivalent to malaco- + -logy.

1. The study of molluscs.

   “But the circumstances which the Baron Cuvier† so justly adduces as tending to retard the progress of Malacology in general, seem especially to have contributed to obscure the history of Nautilus Pompilius.”

   “[…]their chronogeny will long remain one of the most difficult problems in Malacology.”