apterium

[ap-teer-ee-uh m] /æpˈtɪər i əm/

noun, plural apteria

[ap-teer-ee-uh] /æpˈtɪər i ə/ (Show IPA). Ornithology.

one of the featherless portions of the skin of a bird.

Compare pteryla.

Origin of apterium

1865-1870

From New Latin, dating back to 1865-70; See origin at a-⁶, pter-, -ium

Related forms

apterial, adjective

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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2017.
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