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caruncle
(kar′uŋ′kəl, kə ruŋ′kəl)
noun
- an outgrowth of flesh, as the comb and wattles of a fowl
- an outgrowth of an outer seed coat at or near the hilum
Origin: obs. Fr caruncle < L caruncula, dim. of caro: see harvest
Related Forms:
- caruncular adjective or carunculous or carunculate
See caruncle in American Heritage Dictionary 4
noun
- Biology A fleshy naked outgrowth, such as a fowl's wattles.
- Botany An outgrowth or appendage at or near the hilum of certain seeds, as of the castor-oil plant.
Origin:
Origin: Obsolete French caruncule
Origin: , from Latin caruncula
Origin: , diminutive of carō, flesh; see sker-1 in Indo-European roots
.Related Forms:
- ca·runˈcu·lar (-kyə-lər) adjective
- ca·runˈcu·late (-lĭt, -lātˌ), ca·runˈcu·latˌed (-lāˌtĭd) adjective
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