scutellum

American  

[skyoo-tel-uhm] / skjuˈtɛl əm /

noun

• scutella
  plural

1. Botany. the shieldlike cotyledon of certain monocots.

2. Zoology. a small plate, scutum, or other shieldlike part, as on the thorax of insects or the feet of birds.

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scutellum British  

/ skjuːˈtɛləm /

noun

1. the last of three plates into which the notum of an insect's thorax is divided

2. one of the scales on the tarsus of a bird's leg

3. an outgrowth from a germinating grass seed that probably represents the cotyledon

4. any other small shield-shaped part or structure

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scutellum Scientific  

/ skyo̅o̅-tĕl′əm /

• scutella
  plural

1. A shieldlike bony plate or scale, as on the thorax of some insects.

2. The large, shield-shaped cotyledon of the embryo of a grass plant, specialized for the absorption of food from the endosperm.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• scutellar
  adjective
• scutellate
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• scutella
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of scutellum

1750–60; < New Latin, equivalent to Latin scūt ( um ) shield ( see scute) + -ellum diminutive suffix

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

scutellum scutella

Found globally, these insects are named for their outsized scutellum, from the Latin word scutum, meaning shield.

From National Geographic ● Jun. 23, 2018

The metathorax transversely and rather finely rugose, the truncation more strongly striated; the scutellum shining; the wings subhyaline, the nervures ferruginous; the tibiæ with scattered spines, the tarsi spinose.

From Journal of the Proceedings of the Linnean Society - Vol. 3 Zoology by Various

Dorso-alar region: Diptera; between the transverse suture and the scutellum on one side and the root of the wing and the dorso-central region on the other.

From Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology by John. B. Smith

The part in contact with the endosperm is plate-like, and is known as the scutellum; the surface in contact with the endosperm forms an absorptive epithelium.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 12, Slice 3 "Gordon, Lord George" to "Grasses" by Various

Head with the fore black band interrupted; eyes with very long petioles, the latter about three-fourths of the length of the body; scutellum green; femora tawny towards the base.

From Journal of the Proceedings of the Linnean Society - Vol. 3 Zoology by Various

Each kind gets its name from the Latin scutella, "a little cap," which the calyx resembles, and is therefore called Hood Wort, or Helmet flower.

From Herbal Simples Approved for Modern Uses of Cure by William Thomas Fernie

It follows the scutum, and is followed by the small postscutellum; a scutella.

From The Gutenberg Webster's Unabridged Dictionary Section S by Project Gutenberg

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