• (a.) Having the gills covered by the mantle; of or pertaining to the Tectibranchiata. • (n.) A tectibranchiate mollusk.
Tec`ti·bran'chi·ate adjective [ Latin tectus (past participle of tegere to cover) + English branchiate .] (Zoology) Having the gills covered by the mantle; of or pertaining to the Tectibranchiata. -- noun A tectibranchiate mollusk.