Definitions
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
- n. A shieldlike plate on the front of the head of an insect.
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- n. In archaeology: A large circular shield, with a convex outer and concave inner surface.
- n. An ornamental disk, of marble or other substance, in the shape of a shield, often sculptured in relief, hung in the intercolumniations of the atria of Roman dwellings, etc. Examples have been found at Pompeii and elsewhere.
- n. [NL.] In entomology, properly, that part of the upper surface of an insect's head which lies before the front or forehead, and behind the labrum when the latter is present; a fixed sclerite immediately in front of the epicranium, and to which the labrum is attached. See cut under Hymenoptera. By Huxley and other anatomists the front is included in this term, being distinguished as the clypeus superior, or supraclypeus. Some of the older entomologists, notably Fabricius and Illiger, applied the term clypeus to the labrum. In Diptera it is probably represented by the part called the hypostoma or face; but in that order the name is applied to a more or less horny fold on the upper part of the membrane connecting the proboscis with the border of the mouth, properly answering to the labrum. In the Heteroptera the clypeus is a process of the upper part of the head or crown, which in some species extends over the face. Often called the epistoma, especially when it is small or softer than the surrounding parts; also
nasus and prælabrum. - n. [capitalized] [NL.] A genus of fossil echinoderms. C. sinuatus is an example.
Wiktionary
- n. The shield-shaped front part of an insect's head or a spider's cephalothorax.
GNU Webster's 1913
- n. (Zoöl.) The frontal plate of the head of an insect.
WordNet 3.0
- n. a shield-like plate on the front of an insect's head
Etymologies
- From Latin clipeus ‘round shield’. (Wiktionary)
- New Latin, from Latin clipeus, round shield. (American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition)
Examples
“Millipedes were killed by disarticulation, often through decapitation, using the clypeus as a lever.”
“The secutores have a very plain helmet, that their adversary may have little or no opportunity of pulling it off with the net or trident; the right arm is clothed in armor, the left bore a _clypeus_, or large round shield; a sandal tied with narrow bands forms the covering for their feet.”
“With the one exception of its monstrous size, there were the characteristics in plain view; -- the convex body, the large head, the projecting clypeus.”
“Ante-clypeus: Odonata; the lower of the two divisions of the clypeus; the inferior half of the clypeus whenever there is any apparent line of demarcation: = clypeus-anterior; infra-clypeus; rhinarium; second clypeus.”
“Ante-coxal piece: Coleoptera; that portion of the metasternum lying in front of the posterior coxae, often passing between them and meeting the abdomen of mandible, is the lateral sclerite of the clypeus; - one on each side.”
“Epistoma - is: the lower face between the mouth and eyes: that sclerite immediately behind or above the labrum, whether it be clypeus or an intermediate piece: in Diptera, that part of the face between the front and the labrum; the oral margin and an indefinite space immediately contiguous thereto and so = peristoma: in Odonata; = clypeus: = hypostoma.”
“Nasal suture: = clypeal suture; q.v. Nasus: anterior termination of the face in certain Hymenoptera: the clypeus or a modification of it: in Odonata, the upper portion of the clypeus = supra-clypeus = postclypeus.”
“Mystacine - us: bcarded: with a hairy fringe above mouth or on clypeus.”
“Clypeal suture: marks the division between clypeus and epicranium.”
“Gena - ae: the cheeks; includes that portion of the head on each side below the eyes, and extends to the gular suture: in Odonata the area between the eyes and clypeus and mouth parts: in Diptera the space between the lower border of the eye and oral margin, merging into face at front and limited by the occipital margin behind.”
Lists
These user-created lists contain the word ‘clypeus’.
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See cut under
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Logolepsy
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Zoological Terms
Terms used in Zoology
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