SINCE 1828

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ootheca

noun oo·the·ca \ ˌō-ə-ˈthē-kə \

Definition of ootheca

plural oothecae play \ˌō-ə-ˈthē-(ˌ)kē, -(ˌ)sē\

: a firm-walled and distinctive egg case (as of a cockroach)

—

oothecal

play \ˌō-ə-ˈthē-kəl\ adjective

Recent Examples of ootheca from the Web

Behind the female’s bottomless appetite is the extraordinary size of her egg case, or ootheca, a frothy proteinous mass studded with up to 400 eggs that can amount to half her body weight.

— natalie angier, New York Times, "Birds Beware: The Praying Mantis Wants Your Brain," 22 Sep. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'ootheca.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of ootheca

New Latin

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: circa 1856

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

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