flabellum

[ fluh-bel-uhm ]

noun

, plural fla·bel·la [fl, uh, -, bel, -, uh].

1. a fan, especially one used in religious ceremonies.
2. a fan-shaped part.

flabellum

/ fləˈbɛləm /

noun

1. a fan-shaped organ or part, such as the tip of the proboscis of a honeybee
2. RC Church a large ceremonial fan

Word History and Origins

Origin of flabellum¹

1865–70; < Latin flābellum fan, diminutive of flābra breezes, equivalent to flā ( re ) to blow ² + -bra, plural of -brum noun suffix of means; castellum for formation

Word History and Origins

Origin of flabellum¹

C19: from Latin: small fan, from flābra breezes, from flāre to blow

Example Sentences

The large organ of the flabellum and the branchial organs he has not taken into consideration.

From Project Gutenberg

A special sense-organ, such as the flabellum of Limulus or the pecten of scorpion, remains and gives rise to the auditory organ.

From Project Gutenberg

Upon the completion of the victory, four fan-bearers, each with crook and flabellum, offer the spoils of conquest to the king.

From Project Gutenberg

There is also in the same collection a capital of morse ivory for the handle of a flabellum, North German, twelfth century.

From Project Gutenberg

A portion of the cylindrical stem of a flabellum or aspergillum, probably French of the twelfth century, is in the British Museum.

From Project Gutenberg