foraminifera
Fo*ram`i*nif"e*ra, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. L. foramen, -aminis, a foramen + ferre to bear.] (Zoöl.) Defn: An extensive order of rhizopods which generally have a chambered calcareous shell formed by several united zooids. Many of them have perforated walls, whence the name. Some species are covered with sand. See Rhizophoda.