Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun Anatomy A small frenum.
  • noun Entomology A bristly structure on the hind wings of certain moths and butterflies that holds the forewings and hind wings together during flight.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun In anatomy, same as frenum or frenula.
  • noun In lepidopterous insects, a strong, elastic, sometimes double bristle on the upper edge of the secondary wing, near its base. Also spelled frænulum.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun anatomy A small fold of tissue that prevents an organ in the body from moving too far.

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[New Latin frēnulum, diminutive of Latin frēnum, bridle; see frenum.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Latin frēnulum, diminutive of frēnum.

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Examples

  • The word frenulum can also refer to the muscular connection that can be felt on the underside of the tongue.

    There are blonde jokes, and then there are blonde jokes Douglas Hoffman 2006

  • There are more nerve endings near the underside called the frenulum where the foreskin is attached and around the head (the corona), and more girth, generally speaking.

    Suzie Heumann: Thank You Darwin: Phallus Evolution 2009

  • In particular, the frenulum is a very erogenous region known as the "sex nerve" in France that is either ablated during circumcision or is extremely underdeveloped on the circumcised penis.

    Mind Hacks: At last! Female orgasm neuroimaged 2005

  • Immediately behind the external urethral orifice it forms a small secondary reduplication, attached along the bottom of a depressed median raphé, which extends from the meatus to the neck; this fold is termed the frenulum of the prepuce.

    XI. Splanchnology. 3c. 5. The Penis 1918

  • From the inferior end of the longitudinal sulcus, a white band, termed the frenulum veli, is prolonged downward to the anterior medullary velum; on either side of this band the trochlear nerve emerges, and passes forward on the lateral aspect of the cerebral peduncle to reach the base of the brain.

    IX. Neurology. 4b. The Mid-brain or Mesencephalon 1918

  • On either side lateral to the frenulum is a slight fold of the mucous membrane, the plica fimbriata, the free edge of which occasionally exhibits a series of fringe-like processes.

    XI. Splanchnology. 2a. The Mouth 1918

  • She sucks cool air into her mouth, making him shiver at the sudden temperature differential and then pulls off, just keeping the head inside her mouth, her tongue circling wildly around the frenulum before plunging him back into her mouth as far as she can reach.

    Study Break--A Sky Without Zeppelins Missing Scene--Happy Birthday Amyo67 amberfocus 2009

  • Belanger was not wearing a mouthguard and Bergeron's stick - a composite model wrapped in Kevlar to make it more durable - tore a labial frenulum (a muscle attachment) inside his mouth.

    Eric Belanger: 'I felt my teeth shatter right away' 2010

  • He had an abysmal latch and had to have his frenulum clipped but not before my nipples were savaged and bleeding.

    The Boobityville Horror | Her Bad Mother 2008

  • Sounds like my similar experience with an equally voracious eater with a tight frenulum and one inverted nipple (me).

    The Boobityville Horror | Her Bad Mother 2008

Comments

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  • The piece of skin that attaches your tongue to the bottom of your mouth (or any small fold of tissue that prevents an organ in the body from moving too far).

    Edit: see above.

    February 23, 2007

  • I thought the frenum attached the tongue, and "frenulum" was used for smaller connectors, such as the one tying the upper lip to the gums in line with the philtrum.

    April 9, 2008

  • Ah, you're right, mollusque. Frenum is usually reserved for the tongue thingy. Thanks for pointing that out.

    April 9, 2008