petiole

[ pet-ee-ohl ]

noun

1. Botany. the slender stalk by which a leaf is attached to the stem; leafstalk.
2. Zoology. a stalk or peduncle, as that connecting the abdomen and thorax in wasps.

petiole

/ ˈpɛtɪˌəʊl /

noun

1. the stalk by which a leaf is attached to the rest of the plant
2. zoology a slender stalk or stem, such as the connection between the thorax and abdomen of ants

petiole

/ pĕt′ē-ōl′ /

1. See leafstalk

Word History and Origins

Origin of petiole¹

1745–55; < New Latin petiolus leafstalk, special use of Latin petiolus, scribal variant of peciolus, probably for *pediciolus, diminutive of pediculus pedicle

Word History and Origins

Origin of petiole¹

C18: via French from Latin petiolus little foot, from pēs foot

Example Sentences

All men who attended had a head-dress made of the leaf petiole of the betel tree and the red leaves of the dongola plant.

From Project Gutenberg

The petiole is long, and the auricles distant from the lower laciniæ.

From Project Gutenberg

The top, as the tip of a bud or the end of a leaf which is opposite the petiole.

From Project Gutenberg

Leaf-like appendages on either side of a leaf at the base of the petiole.

From Project Gutenberg

In the petiole of Mimosa pudica the velocity may be as high as 30 mm.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• frond
• needle
• petal
• stalk