squama

American  

[skwey-muh] / ˈskweɪ mə /

noun

plural

squamae

1. a scale or scalelike part, as of epidermis or bone.

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squama British  

/ ˈskweɪmə, ˈskweɪmeɪt /

noun

1. biology a scale or scalelike structure

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Other Word Forms

• squamate adjective

Etymology

Origin of squama

First recorded in 1700–10, squama is from the Latin word squāma scale

Example Sentences

Acutesquamosa is from acutus, sharp, and squama, a scale; so called from the many bristling, erect scales on the pileus.

From The Mushroom, Edible and Otherwise Its Habitat and its Time of Growth by Hard, Miron Elisha

Squāme, a scale or squama; Squāmel′la, a small scale.—adjs.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 4 of 4: S-Z and supplements) by Various

Antisquama: Diptera; the upper of the two which moves with the wings; = antitegula; see also squama.

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

Aileron: the scale covering the base of primaries in some insects; see tegulae in Diptera = alula and squama, q.v.

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

Calypter: Diptera; the alula or squama when it covers the haltere.

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