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

D, Lower lip: d1, submentum; d2, mentum; d3, labial palp; d4, glossa; d5, paraglossa.

From The New Gresham Encyclopedia Volume 4, Part 2: Ebert to Estremadura by Various

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

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

The verb to gloss, or gloze, means simply to explain or translate, from Greco-Lat. glossa, tongue; but, under the influence of the unrelated gloss, superficial lustre, it has acquired the sense of specious interpretation.

From The Romance of Words (4th ed.) by Weekley, Ernest

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.

The reference to the "glossa of Theotypas" is part of the fiction.

From A Handbook to the Works of Browning (6th ed.) by Orr, Sutherland, Mrs.