cloaca

(klō ā)

noun pl. cloacae or cloacas

  1. a sewer or cesspool
  2. Zool.
    1. the cavity into which both the intestinal and the genitourinary tracts empty in reptiles, birds, amphibians, and many fishes
    2. in some invertebrates, a similar cavity serving as an excretory, respiratory, and reproductive duct

Origin: L < cluere, to cleanse < IE base *lū-, to rinse, clean > Gr klyzein, to wash, Ger lauter, pure

Related Forms:

See cloaca in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun pl. clo·a·cae (-sēˌ)
  1. A sewer or latrine.
  2. Zoology
    a. The common cavity into which the intestinal, genital, and urinary tracts open in vertebrates such as fish, reptiles, birds, and some primitive mammals.
    b. The posterior part of the intestinal tract in various invertebrates.

Origin:

Origin: Latin cloāca, sewer, canal

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Related Forms:

  • clo·aˈcal (-kəl) adjective

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