brachypterous
|brack-ip-ter-ous|
🇺🇸
/brækˈɪptərəs/
🇬🇧
/brækˈɪpt(ə)rəs/
short-winged (reduced wings)
Etymology
'brachypterous' originates from Greek, specifically from the elements 'brachy-' and 'pteron', where 'brachy-' meant 'short' and 'pteron' meant 'wing'.
'brachypterous' was formed in Neo-Latin/scientific usage (e.g., 'brachypteros' or Latinized 'brachypterus') from Greek roots and entered modern English primarily through entomological and zoological descriptions.
Initially it meant 'short-winged' (literally 'short wing') in compound formations, and over time it has retained this technical meaning referring to organisms with reduced wings.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
having reduced or short wings; (especially of insects) winged with wings so short or reduced that sustained flight is impossible or limited.
Many island beetle species are brachypterous, which limits their ability to disperse by flight.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/12/04 00:20