cloaca

[kloh-ey-kuh]

noun

plural

cloacae 

1. Zoology.

   1. the common cavity into which the intestinal, urinary, and generative canals open in birds, reptiles, amphibians, many fishes, and certain mammals.

   2. a similar cavity in invertebrates.

2. a sewer, especially an ancient sewer.

cloaca

/ kləʊˈeɪkə /

noun

1. a cavity in the pelvic region of most vertebrates, except higher mammals, and certain invertebrates, into which the alimentary canal and the genital and urinary ducts open

2. a sewer

Other Word Forms

• cloacal adjective
• precloacal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of cloaca¹

1650–60; < Latin clo ( u ) āca, cluāca sewer, drain; probably akin to Greek klýzein to wash, wash away

Word History and Origins

Origin of cloaca¹

C18: from Latin: sewer; related to Greek kluzein to wash out

Example Sentences

As the researchers report today in Science, mom released a white substance from her cloaca, which her young immediately gobbled up.

Read more on Science Magazine

It can “breathe” through its cloaca if it needs to.

Read more on NewsForKids.net

Not every creature has one — birds, for example, simply eject sperm from their cloaca.

Read more on Salon

The technique involves massaging a male’s cloaca from the outside with the thumb.

Read more on Science Magazine

And they’re like, ‘A pangolin kissed a turtle? Hurrrm. … Maybe a bat flew into the cloaca of a turkey and then it sneezed into my chili — and now we all have coronavirus.’

Read more on Washington Times

Related Words

• culvert 
• ditch 
• duct 
• pipe 
• sewer