caruncle

American  

[kar-uhng-kuhl, kuh-ruhng-] / ˈkær ʌŋ kəl, kəˈrʌŋ- /

noun

1. Botany. a protuberance at or surrounding the hilum of a seed.

2. Zoology. a fleshy excrescence, as on the head of a bird; a fowl's comb.

3. Anatomy. a small, fleshy growth.

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caruncle British  

/ kəˈrʌŋ-, -ˌleɪt, kəˈrʌŋkjʊlɪt, kəˈrʌŋkjʊlə, ˈkærəŋkəl /

noun

1. a fleshy outgrowth on the heads of certain birds, such as a cock's comb

2. an outgrowth near the hilum on the seeds of some plants

3. any small fleshy mass in or on the body, either natural or abnormal

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Other Word Forms

• caruncular adjective
• carunculate adjective
• carunculous adjective

Etymology

Origin of caruncle

1605–15; earlier caruncula < Latin: small piece of flesh, diminutive of carō (genitive carnis ) flesh; for suffix, carbuncle

Example Sentences

He remains unsure of what the change in the caruncles might signal, or why it’s important.

From New York Times

Here’s another fun fact: Male turkeys, called toms, have bald, featherless heads with all sorts of dangling skin flaps and knobs known as the snood, the wattle and caruncles.

From Washington Post

In the developing embryo, the beak originates near the caruncle and then gradually expands backward.

From Seattle Times

After about 60 days of incubation inside their eggs, turtle hatchlings use a temporary tooth called a caruncle to break out of their shells.

From Scientific American

The head and caruncles on the neck of the male are, when excited, of the same blue and scarlet hues.

From Project Gutenberg

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