| 释义 |
‖ Cynips Entom.|ˈsɪnɪps|
[mod.L.; according to Darmsteter, formed by Linnæus from Gr. κυν- dog + ἶψ a kind of cynips, or insect that eats vine-buds, etc. (Others have thought it an alteration of late L. ciniphes, sciniphes, in Vulgate, Exod. viii. 16, rendering Gr. σκνίϕες.) Also mod.F. cynips.]
The typical genus of the gall-flies, hymenopterous insects which puncture plants in order to deposit their eggs, and thus produce galls or gall-nuts.
Hence ˈcynipid, an insect of the Cynipidæ, or family allied to Cynips. cyniˈpidean, cyniˈpideous, cyˈnipidous adjs., of or pertaining to the Cynipidæ or gall-flies.
1777Lightfoot Flora Scotica II. 583 Excrescencies occasioned by a small insect called Cynips. 1884Athenæum 15 Nov. 628/1 Oak-galls produced by cynipidean insects. |