chelicera

[ kuh-lis-er-uh ]
/ kəˈlɪs ər ə /

noun, plural che·lic·er·ae [kuh-lis-uh-ree] /kəˈlɪs əˌri/.

one member of the first pair of usually pincerlike appendages of spiders and other arachnids.
Compare pedipalp.

Origin of chelicera

1825–35; < New Latin, equivalent to cheli- cheli- + Greek kér(as) horn + Latin -a feminine noun ending

OTHER WORDS FROM chelicera

che·lic·er·al, adjective che·lic·er·ate [kuh-lis-uh-reyt, -er-it] /kəˈlɪs əˌreɪt, -ər ɪt/, adjective

Words nearby chelicera

chelan, chelate, chelating agent, chelation, cheli-, chelicera, chelicerate, cheliferous, cheliform, cheliped, chellean

British Dictionary definitions for chelicera

chelicera
/ (kɪˈlɪsərə) /

noun plural -erae (-əˌriː)

one of a pair of appendages on the head of spiders and other arachnids: often modified as food-catching claws

Derived forms of chelicera

cheliceral, adjective

Word Origin for chelicera

C19: from New Latin, from French chélicère, from chél- see chela 1 + -cère from Greek keras horn