aril

[ ar-il ]

noun

, Botany.

1. a usually fleshy appendage or covering of certain seeds, as of the bittersweet, Celastrus scandens, or the nutmeg.

aril

/ ˈærɪl /

noun

1. an appendage on certain seeds, such as those of the yew and nutmeg, developed from or near the funicle of the ovule and often brightly coloured and fleshy

aril

/ ăr′əl /

1. A fleshy seed cover which arises from the funiculus (the stalk of the ovule). Arils, such the red berry-like arils of the yew, are often brightly colored to attract animals who eat them and disperse the seeds. The spice mace is the aril of the nutmeg seed.

Derived Forms

• ˈarilˌlate, adjective

Other Words From

• aril·loid adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of aril¹

1785–95; < New Latin arillus; Medieval Latin: grape seed, probably erroneously for armillus, with same sense; compare Upper Italian dialect armella, arma kernel, pit of a fruit, Italian animella edible insides of an animal < Latin anima literally, spirit (hence, the insides of a thing), with -illa diminutive suffix; anima

Word History and Origins

Origin of aril¹

C18: from New Latin arillus, from Medieval Latin arilli raisins, pips of grapes

Example Sentences

By the end of Aril, the several armies seemed to be ready, and the general forward movement on Corinth began.

From Project Gutenberg

Seed vessel pyramidal, containing many seeds enveloped in an elastic aril by which they are ejected when the fruit opens.

From Project Gutenberg

Calyx not minute; pod colored, dehiscent; seeds enclosed in a pulpy aril.

From Project Gutenberg

Seeds many in several rows on the lateral placenta, with a fleshy lacerate aril on one side.

From Project Gutenberg

The pulp is of the nature of an aril, that is, an additional seed-coat.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• chaff
• pod
• rind