aedeagus

noun

ae·​de·​a·​gus

variants or less commonly aedoeagus

¦ē-dē-¦ā-gəs,

ē-ˈdē-ə-

plural aedeagi also aedoeagi

¦ē-dē-¦ā-ˌgī,

-ˌjī,

ē-ˈdē-ə-

: the intromittent organ of a male insect : phallus

sometimes : the distal part of this structure

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Greek aidoia genitals + agos leader, from agein to lead

First Known Use

1860, in the meaning defined above

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!