flabella

Variant of flabellum

flabellum definition

fla·bel·lum (flə bel′əm)

noun pl. flabella -·bel′la (-ə)

  1. a large fan carried by the pope's attendants on ceremonial occasions
  2. Zool. a fan-shaped organ or structure of the body

Etymology: L, a fan, dim. of flabrum, a breeze < flare, to blow < IE *bhlē-: see blast

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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