telson

American  

[tel-suhn] / ˈtɛl sən /

noun

1. the last segment, or an appendage of the last segment, of certain arthropods, as the middle flipper of a lobster's tail.

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telson British  

/ ˈtɛlsən, tɛlˈsɒnɪk /

noun

1. the last segment or an appendage on the last segment of the body of crustaceans and arachnids

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Other Word Forms

• telsonic adjective

Etymology

Origin of telson

First recorded in 1850–55, telson is from the Greek word télson boundary, limit

Example Sentences

After crunching the numbers, Green found that incorporating this telson coil behavior enables mantis shrimp to dissipate more energy than their armor can absorb based on its material properties alone, bumping the number from 69% of strike energy to around 90%.

From Science Daily

Gavin Lauridsen and Kyle Telson combined on a three-hitter.

From Los Angeles Times

Breuer, an innovative director who was a founding member of the avant-garde theater troupe Mabou Mines, and Telson, a versatile composer and songwriter drawn to mercurial film and theater projects, chose “Oedipus at Colonus” for an experiment in adaptation.

From Los Angeles Times

Telson’s glorious gospel score engulfs the work, dictating its path and momentum.

From Los Angeles Times

Lee Breuer and Bob Telson’s “The Gospel at Colonus,” this year’s livelier-than-usual outdoor theater production at the Getty Villa, combines disparate ritual traditions.

From Los Angeles Times