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proleg

American  
[proh-leg] / ˈproʊˌlɛg /

noun

  1. one of the abdominal ambulatory processes of caterpillars and other larvae, as distinct from the true or thoracic legs.

proleg British  
/ ˈprəʊˌlɛɡ /

noun

  1. any of the short paired unjointed appendages on each abdominal segment of a caterpillar and any of certain other insect larvae

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of proleg

First recorded in 1810–20; pro- 1 + leg

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Manhattan Boutique Owner Jimmi York credits the craze to anti-midi, proleg passion.

From Time Magazine Archive

The larvae of Elateridae are elongate, worm-like grubs, with narrow bodies, very firm cuticle, short legs, and a distinct anal proleg.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 6 "Cockaigne" to "Columbus, Christopher" by Various

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.