alula

American  

[al-yuh-luh] / ˈæl yə lə /

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.

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alula British  

/ ˈæljʊlə /

noun

1. another name for bastard wing

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Other Word Forms

• alular adjective

Etymology

Origin of alula

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

Example Sentences

They have a movable feather called an "alula," which usually rests against the leading edge.

From Time Magazine Archive

Then it opens a slot by moving the alula.

From Time Magazine Archive

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

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

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

From Project Gutenberg