forewing

American  

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

noun

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

The Anthocoridae are nearly related to the Cimicidae, but the wings are usually well developed and the forewing possesses cuneus and embolium as well as corium and clavus.

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