chela

[ kee-luh ]

/ ˈki lə /

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noun, plural che·lae

[kee-lee]. /ˈki li/.

the pincerlike organ or claw terminating certain limbs of crustaceans and arachnids.

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Origin of chela

1640–50; <New Latin <Greek chēlḗ claw

Words nearby chela

Cheka, Chekhov, Chekhov, Anton, Chekhovian, Chekiang, chela, Chelan, chelate, chelating agent, chelation, cheli-

Other definitions for chela (2 of 2)

chela²

[ chey-lah ]

/ ˈtʃeɪ lɑ /

noun

(in India) a disciple of a religious teacher.

Origin of chela

1825–35; <Hindi celā; compare Pali cellaka monk, Prakrit cilla boy, student

OTHER WORDS FROM chela

che·la·ship, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use chela in a sentence

I have now no chela, but I will take the alms-bowl and thus enable the charitable to acquire merit.'
Kim|Rudyard Kipling
Lamas I know, and to these I give reverence, but thou art no more a lawful chela than this my finger is the pole of this waggon.
Kim|Rudyard Kipling
The lama would give him no help, but, as a conscientious chela, Kim was delighted to beg for two.
Kim|Rudyard Kipling
Rich would be the reward of such a master and such a chela when the time came for them to seek freedom together!
Kim|Rudyard Kipling

Let the chela study the troubles that come from over-eating—bloated stomach and burning bowels.
Kim|Rudyard Kipling

British Dictionary definitions for chela (1 of 2)

chela¹

/ (ˈkiːlə) /

noun plural lae (-liː)

a large pincer-like claw of such arthropods as the crab and scorpion

Derived forms of chela

cheliferous (kɪˈlɪfərəs), adjective

Word Origin for chela

C17: New Latin, from Greek khēlē claw

British Dictionary definitions for chela (2 of 2)

chela²

/ (ˈtʃeɪlə) /

noun

Hinduism a disciple of a religious teacher

Derived forms of chela

chelaship, noun

Word Origin for chela

C19: from Hindi celā, from Sanskrit ceta servant, slave

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012