dermapteran

[ der-map-ter-uhn ]

adjective

Also der·map·ter·ous. belonging or pertaining to the insect order Dermaptera, comprising the earwigs.

noun

any of numerous brown to black, small to medium-sized nocturnal insects of the order Dermaptera, widely distributed in warm, moist areas, characterized by a slender, elongated, flattened body with pincerlike appendages at the tail end of the abdomen.

Origin of dermapteran

1860–65; <New Latin Dermapter(a) (irregular <Greek dermóptera (see dermopteran), or a deliberate alteration of Dermoptera to keep the taxa distinct) + -an

Words Nearby dermapteran

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British Dictionary definitions for dermapteran

dermapteran

/ (dɜːˈmæptərən) /

noun

any insect of the order Dermaptera, the earwigs

adjective

of, relating to, or belonging to this order

Origin of dermapteran

C19: from Greek derma (see derma 1) + pteron wing

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

Scientific definitions for dermapteran

dermapteran

[ dər-măp′tər-ən ]

Any of various insects of the order Dermaptera, having an elongated flattened body equipped with a pair of pincerlike appendages at the posterior end. Dermapterans include the earwigs.

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