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mecopteran

(mi käp′tər ən)

noun

any of an order (Mecoptera) of carnivorous insects, with a head that is greatly elongated into a beak with chewing mouthparts, and, usually, four long, narrow, membranous wings; scorpion fly

Origin: < ModL Mecoptera < Gr mēkos, length (for IE base see meager) + pter(o)- + -an

Related Forms:

mecopterous adjective

See mecopteran in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

Any of various carnivorous insects of the order Mecoptera, which includes the scorpion flies, characterized by long membranous wings and an elongated beaklike head having chewing mouthparts at the tip.

Origin:

Origin: From New Latin Mēcoptera, order name

Origin: : Greek mēkos, length; see māk- in Indo-European roots

Origin: + Greek ptera

Origin: , pl. of pteron, wing; see pet- in Indo-European roots

Related Forms: