osculum

[os-kyuh-luhm]

noun

plural

oscula 

1. a small mouthlike aperture, as of a sponge.

osculum

/ ˈɒskjʊləm /

noun

1. zoology a mouthlike aperture, esp the opening in a sponge out of which water passes

Word History and Origins

Origin of osculum¹

1605–15; < New Latin, Latin ōsculum, equivalent to ōs mouth + -culum -cule ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of osculum¹

C17: from Latin: a kiss, little mouth, diminutive of ōs mouth

Example Sentences

I. 145., has another imitation: "Exceptus gladio parvulus impio, Dum currit patrium natus ad osculum, Immatura focis victima concidit."

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This custom appears to have been very general in past times, and Mr. Henderson suggests that “it may possibly be a dim memorial of the osculum pacis, or the presentation of the Pax to the newly-married pair.”

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He introduced in his church the primitive custom of the “osculum pacis” and the “agape” celebrated as a common meal with broth.

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The newly liberated bud already possesses numerous minute pores, but as yet no osculum; its shape exhibits considerable variation, but the end that was farthest from the parent-sponge before liberation is always more or less rounded, while the other end is flat.

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The effluent water collects in patches under the external membrane instead of making its way out of the existing oscula, and new oscula are formed over these patches in much the same way as the first osculum is formed in the bud.

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