Dictionary.com

chela

1
[ kee-luh ]
/ ˈki lə /

noun, plural che·lae [kee-lee]. /ˈki li/.

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

QUIZZES

THINK YOU’VE GOT A HANDLE ON THIS US STATE NICKNAME QUIZ?

Did you ever collect all those state quarters? Put them to good use on this quiz about curious state monikers and the facts around them.
Question 1 of 8
Mississippi’s nickname comes from the magnificent trees that grow there. What is it?
The Sunflower State
The Evergreen State
The Magnolia State
The Mockingbird State
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of chela

1
1640–50; <New Latin <Greek chēlḗ claw

Words nearby chela

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

Definition for chela (2 of 2)

chela2
[ chey-lah ]
/ ˈtʃeɪ lɑ /

noun

(in India) a disciple of a religious teacher.

Origin of chela

2
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. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for chela

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