tergite

noun

ter·​gite ˈtər-ˌgīt How to pronounce tergite (audio)
: the dorsal plate or dorsal portion of the covering of a metameric segment of an arthropod
especially : one on the abdomen

Word History

Etymology

New Latin tergum

First Known Use

1868, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tergite was in 1868

Dictionary Entries Near tergite

Cite this Entry

“Tergite.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tergite. Accessed 30 Oct. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!