hibernaculum

Also hi·ber·nac·le

[hahy-ber-nak-yuh-luhm]

noun

plural

hibernacula 

1. a protective case or covering, especially for winter, as of an animal or a plant bud.

2. winter quarters, as of a hibernating animal.

hibernaculum

/ ˌhaɪbəˈnækjʊləm, ˈhaɪbəˌnækəl /

noun

1. the winter quarters of a hibernating animal

2. the protective case or covering of a plant bud or animal

hibernaculum

1. A protective case, covering, or structure, such as a plant bud, in which an organism remains dormant for the winter.

2. The shelter of a hibernating animal.

Word History and Origins

Origin of hibernaculum¹

First recorded in 1690–1700; from Latin hībernāculum “winter residence,” equivalent to hībernā(re) “to spend the winter” + -culum suffix denoting place

Word History and Origins

Origin of hibernaculum¹

C17: from Latin: winter residence; see _hibernate

Example Sentences

He says human disturbance during hibernation can cause significant impacts to bats and may even result in the abandonment of the cave as a hibernaculum.

Read more on Washington Times

Construction of the winter cave, or hibernaculum, cost about $300,000.

Read more on Washington Post

It is the winter home, or hibernaculum, to 270,000 gray bats, listed as endangered partly because the entire species hibernates in only nine caves, three of those in Tennessee.

Read more on New York Times

"Not only is there a likelihood we are insulating the insect queen's hibernaculum, the snowpack also protects the trees and it protects the roots," said Demain.

Read more on Scientific American

Box turtles, like nearly all other reptiles occurring at these latitudes, spend the winter in underground hibernacula.

Read more on Project Gutenberg