having the form of a patella; shaped like a saucer, kneecap, or limpet shell
Word origin
[1810–20; patell(a) + -i- + -form]This word is first recorded in the period 1810–20. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: duplex, keyboard, knockout, liberalism, zombie-i- is the typical ending of the first element of compounds of Latin words, as -o- is of Greek words, but often used in English with a first element of any origin,if the second element is of Latin origin. Other words that use the affix -i- include: Frenchify, cuneiform; -form is a combining form meaning “having the form of”. Other words that use the affix-form include: arcform, somatoform, stratiform, terraform, uniform