ligula

noun

lig·​u·​la ˈli-gyə-lə 

plural ligulae ˈli-gyə-ˌlē 

-ˌlī

also ligulas

1

: ligule

2

: the distal lobed part of the labium of an insect

Word History

Etymology

New Latin

First Known Use

circa 1760, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Medical Definition

ligula

noun

lig·​u·​la ˈlig-yə-lə 

1

capitalized : a genus of tapeworms of the family Diphyllobothriidae that lack external evidence of segmentation, that as adults are usually extremely short-lived internal parasites of fish-eating birds but include one (L. intestinalis) found rarely in humans, and that develop almost to maturity in the body cavity of freshwater fishes

2

: a larval tapeworm developing reproductive organs and living in the body cavity of a fish