pecten Hear it!

pecten Definition

pec·ten (pek′tən)

noun pl. pec′·ti·nes′-tə nēz′

  1. a vascular mass of tissue on the retina of the eye of many birds and reptiles
  2. any comblike structure, as a part of the stridulating organ of some spiders

Etymology: L, a comb < pectere, to comb < IE base *pe-, to pull wool or hair, shorn animal, cattle > fee

pecten Usage Examples

Adjective modifier

  • yellow: Around 1962, Shell changed the logo again by placing the yellow pecten onto a red square background.