alula
Americannoun
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alulae
plural
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Also called spurious wing, 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.
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a membranous lobe at the base of each wing of a dipterous insect.
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of alula
1765–75; < New Latin, equivalent to Latin āl ( a ) wing + -ula -ule
Vocabulary lists containing alula
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
We make our way among a density of exotic plants, an endangered Hawaiian plant called alula, a cacao tree, conifers and vines that trap insects.
From Time Magazine Archive
Then it opens a slot by moving the alula.
From Time Magazine Archive
They have a movable feather called an "alula," which usually rests against the leading edge.
From Time Magazine Archive
Axillary incision: Diptera; an incision on inner margin of wing, near base, which separates the alula from the main part.
From Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology by John. B. Smith
Aileron: the scale covering the base of primaries in some insects; see tegulae in Diptera = alula and squama, q.v.
From Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology by John. B. Smith
As for alulae – based on Eoalulavis and other taxa, you’re right.
From Scientific American ● May 15, 2012
But how can you be absolutely sure that they don’t have alulae in the reconstruction?
From Scientific American ● May 15, 2012
Well, they look exactly like gulls with lengthened legs and… no alulae.
From Scientific American ● May 15, 2012
Acalyptrata: those muscid flies in which alulae are absent or rudimentary.
From Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology by John. B. Smith
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