† nemoglossateadj.
Origin: Either (i) a borrowing from Greek, combined with English elements; modelled on a Latin lexical item. Or (ii) a borrowing from Greek, combined with a borrowing from Latin, combined with English elements; modelled on a Latin lexical item. Etymons: Greek νῆμα , -o- connective, Latin glossa , Greek γλῶσσα , -ate suffix2, -ous suffix.
Etymology: < ancient Greek νῆμα thread (see nemato- comb. form) + -o- connective + either post-classical Latin glossa or ancient Greek γλῶσσα tongue (see gloss n.1) + -ate suffix2, after scientific Latin Nemoglossata ( Latreille Hist. nat. gén. et partic. crust. et ins. III. 373). Compare earlier nemoglossatous adj.
Entomology.
Obsolete.
rare. Apparently only attested in dictionaries or glossaries.
1890 Nemoglossate, having a thready or filamentous tongue, as a bee.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2003; most recently modified version published online June 2021).