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pecten definition

pec·ten (pek′tən)

noun pl. pectines 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

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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