fontanelle

Variant of fontanel

or fontanelle

noun

  1. Obsolete an opening in the body for the discharge of secretions
  2. any of the soft, boneless areas in the skull of a baby or young animal, which are later closed up by the formation of bone

Origin: ME fontinel, a hollow, pit (of the body) < OFr fontanele, dim. of fontaine, fountain

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2010 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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