forewing

American  

[fawr-wing, fohr-] / ˈfɔrˌwɪŋ, ˈfoʊr- /

noun

1. either of the anterior and usually smaller pair of wings of an insect having four wings.

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forewing British  

/ ˈfɔːˌwɪŋ /

noun

1. either wing of the anterior pair of an insect's two pairs of wings

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Etymology

Origin of forewing

First recorded in 1885–90; fore- + wing

Example Sentences

The Mark IV has a “canard” design, with a small forewing placed to the front of the main wing, making it reminiscent of a duck stretched out in flight.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 18, 2024

But there are more than a half-million known beetle species, and until now, all have had at least some form of hard forewing elytra.

From New York Times • Jul. 8, 2023

But it was missing one of the animal’s defining characteristics: the tough forewing casing known to scientists as the elytra.

From New York Times • Jul. 8, 2023

Known to entomologists as Vanessa atalanta, the red admiral is mostly black, with white spots near the wing tips, orange bands on the hind wings, and a bright red band on the forewing.

From Washington Post • Mar. 20, 2020

Somewhat magnified. sc, scutellum; co, cl, m, corium, clavus and membrane of forewing.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 13, Slice 3 "Helmont, Jean" to "Hernosand" by Various