incus

[ing-kuhs]

noun

plural

incudes, incus 

1. Anatomy.,  the middle one of a chain of three small bones in the middle ear of humans and other mammals.

2. Also called thunderhead. Also called anvil. Also called anvil cloud. Also called anvil top,. the spreading, anvil-shaped, upper portion of a mature cumulonimbus cloud, smooth or slightly fibrous in appearance.

incus

/ ˈɪŋkəs, ˈɪŋkjʊˌdeɪt, ˈɪŋkjʊdəl /

noun

1. Nontechnical name: anvil. the central of the three small bones in the middle ear of mammals Compare malleus stapes

incus

plural

incudes 

1. The anvil-shaped bone (ossicle) that lies between the malleus and the stapes in the middle ear.

2. The elongated, often anvil-shaped upper portion of a fully developed cumulonimbus cloud; a thunderhead.

Other Word Forms

• incudate adjective
• incudal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of incus¹

1660–70; < New Latin, Latin incūs anvil, equivalent to incūd- (stem of incūdere to hammer, beat upon) + -s nominative singular ending; incuse

Word History and Origins

Origin of incus¹

C17: from Latin: anvil, from incūdere to forge