any of an order (Gorgonacea) of colonial anthozoans with a horny, axial skeleton that branches, as in the sea whips, or forms an open network, as in the sea fans
See gorgonian in American Heritage Dictionary 4
(gôr-gōˈnē-ən)
noun
Any of various corals of the order Gorgonacea, having a flexible, often branching skeleton of horny material.