hyobranchium

noun

hyo·​bran·​chi·​um

ˌhīōˈbraŋkēəm

plural hyobranchia

-ēə

: a typically somewhat Y-shaped bone that serves to support the tongue and tongue muscles in a snake and is considered to result from fusion of the hyoid and remnants of the branchial arches

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from hy- + -branchium (from Greek branchion gill)

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!