hypoptilum

noun

hy·​pop·​ti·​lum

hīˈpäptələm,

hə̇ˈ-

plural hypoptila

-lə

: aftershaft

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from hypo- + Greek ptilon wing, feather, down; akin to Greek petesthai to fly

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!