penicillate

[pen-uh-sil-it, -eyt]

adjective

1. having a penicil or penicils.

penicillate

/ -eɪt, ˌpɛnɪˈsɪlɪt /

adjective

1. biology having or resembling one or more tufts of fine hairs

   a penicillate caterpillar

Other Word Forms

• penicillately adverb
• penicillation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of penicillate¹

1810–20; < Latin pēnicill ( us ) ( pencil ) + -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of penicillate¹

C19: from Latin pēnicillus brush, _pencil

Example Sentences

Penicillate, Penicilliform, tipped with a tuft of fine hairs, like a painter's pencil; as the stigmas of some Grasses.

From Project Gutenberg

Penicillate: with a long, flexible brush or pencil of hair: often at the end of a thin stalk.

From Project Gutenberg