palpaladj.
/ˈpalpl/, U.S. /ˈpælp(ə)l/ Zoology.
Of the nature of, relating to, or serving as a palp.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > animal body > general parts > [adjective] > having form of a feeler > having feelers
palpal1857
palpate1857
1857 R. G. Mayne Expos. Lexicon Med. Sci. (1860) Palpalis, palpatus, applied to an insect having palpi remarkable for their colouring,..their length,..their form..or their mode of insertion and their number..: palpal: palpate.
1874 J. T. Moggridge Ants Suppl. 299 The terminal palpal claw has two teeth towards its base on the underside.
1923 Sci. Monthly June 590 There are variations..in the number of palpal segments from four to one.
1987 Nature 10 Sept. 114/2 Palpal structure in male spiders and the appearance of the genital area in females are usually extremely complex.
Compounds
palpal organ n. a modification of the terminal joint of the pedipalp of a male spider, which serves as a secondary sexual organ.
ΚΠ
1875 Amer. Naturalist 9 279 A groove passing spirally round the end of the palpal organ to a fleshy conductor.
1961 J. L. Cloudsley-Thompson & J. Sankey Land Invertebr. x. 102 They [sc. spiders] are characterised by the presence of..palpal organs which, in males, are used for mating.
1991 Ann. Rev. Ecol. & Systematics 22 592/1 Morphology and homologous features in the male palpal organ in Pisauridae and other spider families.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2005; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1857