hypopygium

noun

hy·​po·​pyg·​i·​um
variants or less commonly hypopygidium
"+pəˈjidēəm
plural hypopygia also hypopygidia
-ēə
: a modified 9th abdominal segment of many insects with which the copulatory apparatus is associated
especially : such a modified segment together with the copulatory apparatus of a dipterous insect

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from hypo- + -pygium (from pyg- + -ium) or -pygidium (from Greek pygidion small rump)

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Cite this Entry

“Hypopygium.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hypopygium. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.

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