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 • Jul. 4, 2022

Lahiri Mahasaya had appeared to instruct the chela in answer to his prayers.

From Autobiography of a Yogi by Yogananda, Paramahansa

Again at noon and again at night the chela goes out on similar foraging expeditions and conducts the commissary department in that way.

From Modern India by Curtis, William Eleroy

Thus a chela should be actuated solely by a desire to understand the operations of the Law of Cosmic Evolution, so as to be able to work in conscious and harmonious accord with Nature.

From Five Years of Theosophy by Various

Two wooden stools are set within it and the guru and his chela take their seats on these.

From The Tribes and Castes of the Central Provinces of India - Volume IV of IV Kumhar-Yemkala by Russell, R. V. (Robert Vane)