strepsipterous

[ strep-sip-ter-uhs ]

adjective

1. belonging or pertaining to the order Strepsiptera, comprising minute insects that are closely related to the beetles, the twisted-winged male being free-living and the wingless female parasitic in various insect hosts.

Word History and Origins

Origin of strepsipterous¹

1810–20; < New Latin Strepsipter ( a ) order name (< Greek strepsi- (stem of strépsis a turning round, equivalent to strep- (variant stem of stréphein to twist, turn; strepto- ) + -sis -sis ) + -ptera, neuter plural of -pteros -pterous ) + -ous