caruncle

[kar-uhng-kuhl, kuh-ruhng-]

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.

caruncle

/ 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

Other Word Forms

• caruncular adjective
• carunculate adjective
• carunculous adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of caruncle¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of caruncle¹

C17: from obsolete French caruncule, from Latin caruncula a small piece of flesh, from carō flesh

Example Sentences

For example, males will drain all the blood from the caruncles so they’re as white as a sheet of paper, Dr. Buchholz said.

Read more on 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.

Read more on Washington Post

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

Read more on 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.

Read more on Scientific American

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

Read more on Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• acne 
• blemish 
• blister 
• lump