sheath-winged
|sheath-winged|
/ˈʃiːðˌwɪŋd/
wings covered by a protective sheath
Etymology
'sheath-winged' originates from Modern English as a compound of the noun 'sheath' (a protective covering) and the adjective 'winged' (having wings).
'sheath' comes from Old English words meaning 'covering' and is ultimately from Proto-Germanic roots for a covering or case; 'wing' derives from Old English 'wing' (a limb for flying), and the adjective form 'winged' is formed by adding the participial suffix '-ed'. The modern compound 'sheath-winged' developed in English to describe insects whose forewings form a sheath.
Initially, the component words referred separately to a protective covering ('sheath') and possession of wings ('winged'); combined, they have long been used in entomology to describe wings that are covered by a sheath, and that technical sense remains the principal meaning.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a sheath-winged insect; specifically, a beetle (a member of the order Coleoptera).
The museum display included several sheath-winged specimens collected from the region.
Synonyms
Adjective 1
having the forewings modified into hardened elytra that form a protective covering (a sheath) over the hind wings; characteristic of beetles (order Coleoptera).
Many insects in the order Coleoptera are sheath-winged.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/10/14 13:59