car·ci·noe·ci·um \ˌkärsəˈnēs(h)ēəm\noun (pluralcarcinoe·cia \-s(h)ēə\) Etymology: New Latin, from carcin- + -oecium (from Greek oikion house, nest, diminutive of oikos house) — more at vicinity : a colony of zoanthidean anemones (genus Epizoanthus) enclosing a hermit crab after dissolving the shell in which the crab lodged