dactylus

American  

[dak-tuh-luhs] / ˈdæk tə ləs /

noun

plural

dactyli

1. an enlarged portion of the leg after the first joint in some insects, as the pollen-carrying segment in the hind leg of certain bees.

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Etymology

Origin of dactylus

New Latin < Greek; dactyl

Example Sentences

The Date, the fruit of the Date Palm, derives its name from the Greek dactylus, a finger, from its mode of growing in clusters spreading out like the fingers of the hand.

From A Catechism of Familiar Things; Their History, and the Events Which Led to Their Discovery. With a Short Explanation of Some of the Principal Natural Phenomena. For the Use of Schools and Families. Enlarged and Revised Edition. by Anonymous

In the foot there is a gelatinous spring or style, which, even when taken out, has great elasticity, and which seems the mainspring of the motions of the Pholas dactylus.'

From Chambers's Edinburgh Journal, No. 430 Volume 17, New Series, March 27, 1852 by Chambers, William