alula

[al-yuh-luh]

noun

plural

alulae 

1. Also called spurious wing. Also called bastard wing. the group of three to six small, rather stiff feathers growing on the first digit, pollex, or thumb of a bird's wing.

2. a membranous lobe at the base of each wing of a dipterous insect.

alula

/ ˈæljʊlə /

noun

1. another name for bastard wing

Other Word Forms

• alular adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of alula¹

1765–75; < New Latin, equivalent to Latin āl ( a ) wing + -ula -ule

Word History and Origins

Origin of alula¹

C18: New Latin: a little wing, from Latin āla a wing

Example Sentences

But how can you be absolutely sure that they don’t have alulae in the reconstruction?

From Scientific American

Lobulus: the partly separated portion of the wings of some flies and of secondaries in some Hymenoptera: also used as = alula; q.v.

From Project Gutenberg

Well, they look exactly like gulls with lengthened legs and… no alulae.

From Scientific American

Alulet: Diptera: the lobe at basal posterior part of wing; = alar appendage; posterior lobe: and has been used as = alula.

From Project Gutenberg

Axillary incision: Diptera; an incision on inner margin of wing, near base, which separates the alula from the main part.

From Project Gutenberg