maxillula

noun

max·​il·​lu·​la

makˈsilyələ

plural maxillulae

-ˌlē

1

: either member of the first pair of maxillae of a crustacean

2

: any of several lobes or appendages of an insect's mouthparts that may be homologous to the crustacean maxillula

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from maxilla + -ula

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