paragnath

noun

par·​ag·​nath

ˈparə̇gˌnath

plural -s

1

: one of a pair of foliose lobes of the metastoma lying behind the mandibles in most crustaceans

2

: one of the paired lobes of the hypopharynx in various insects

3

: one of the small horny toothlike jaws of various annelids

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary para- entry 1 + Greek gnathos jaw

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!