glossa

¹ American  

[glos-uh, glaw-suh] / ˈglɒs ə, ˈglɔ sə /

noun

plural

glossae, glossas

1. Anatomy. the tongue.

2. Entomology. one of a pair of median, sometimes fused lobes of the labium of an insect.

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Glossa ² American  

[glaw-suh] / ˈglɔ sə /

noun

1. Cape, a promontory in SW Albania.

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glossa British  

/ ˈɡlɒsə /

noun

1. anatomy a technical word for the tongue

2. a paired tonguelike lobe in the labium of an insect

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Other Word Forms

• glossal adjective

Etymology

Origin of glossa

First recorded in 1885–90, glossa is from the Greek word glôssa tongue

Example Sentences

Lingua spiralis: the spiral tongue of Lepidoptera: see glossa.

From Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology by Smith, John. B.

Flabellum: a fan: a leafed structure: the transparent lobe at the end of the glossa in bees: also used as = flagellum; q.v.

From Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology by Smith, John. B.

After consiliis, in all the manuscripts, occur the words postquam omnis Numidia potiebatur, which were struck out by Cortius, as being turpissima glossa.

From Conspiracy of Catiline and the Jurgurthine War by Watson, John Selby

The so-called glossa ordinaria had in Luther's time an authority almost equal to that of the corpus juris itself.

From Works of Martin Luther With Introductions and Notes (Volume II) by Luther, Martin

For in the text, when these words are used: "your wife taken in adultery," a glossa explains the word "taken" as equal to "convicted."

From The Old Yellow Book Source of Robert Browning's The Ring and the Book by Anonymous