chela

¹ American  

[kee-luh] / ˈki lə /

noun

plural

chelae

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

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chela ² American  

[chey-lah] / ˈtʃeɪ lɑ /

noun

1. (in India) a disciple of a religious teacher.

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chela ¹ British  

/ kɪˈlɪfərəs, ˈkiːlə /

noun

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

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chela ² British  

/ ˈtʃeɪlə /

noun

1. Hinduism a disciple of a religious teacher

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Other Word Forms

• chelaship noun
• cheliferous adjective

Etymology

Origin of chela¹

1640–50; < New Latin < Greek chēlḗ claw

Origin of chela²

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

Example Sentences

The drink's name represents maybe the world's best contraction, combining "chela," a slang term for beer; "ada" from "helada," meaning cold; and "mi" for mine — a.k.a "my cold beer."

From Salon

The most bandied about explanation is that it’s a shortening of mi chela helada or “my cold beer.”

From Los Angeles Times

Snapping shrimps are sometimes called pistol shrimps and use their larger claw - the major chela - as a deadly weapon to kill prey and opponents.

From BBC

The Dalai Lama added, "You Indians are our gurus, we are the chela," meaning "followers."

From New York Times

Snapping shrimp get their name from their unusually large major chela, which they use to deter predators or other shrimp that compete with them for precious space within a sponge.

From New York Times