furcula

See also: fúrcula

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin furcula

Noun

furcula (plural furculae or furculæ)

  1. (anatomy) A forked process or structure, generally two-pronged.
  2. (ornithology) The forked bone formed by the fusion of the clavicles in birds, the wishbone or merrythought.
  3. (entomology) The (two-pronged) forked, somewhat tail-like organ held bent forward and secured by a catch beneath most species of Collembola (springtails), with which they jump by releasing the catch abruptly when alarmed.

Translations


Latin

Etymology

furca + -ula.

Noun

furcula f

  1. small two-pronged fork

References

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