spec·u·lum 
(spĕkyə-ləm)
(spĕkyə-ləm)n. pl. spec·u·la (-lə) or spec·u·lums
1. A mirror or polished metal plate used as a reflector in optical instruments.
2. An instrument for dilating the opening of a body cavity for medical examination.
3. Zoology
a. A bright, often iridescent patch of color on the wings of certain birds, especially ducks.
b. A transparent spot in the wings of some butterflies or moths.
[Middle English, surgical speculum, from Latin, mirror, from specere, to look at; see spek- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]
- Indo-European root: kelə-
- Indo-European root: ken-
- Indo-European root: kenk-
- Indo-European root: kens-
- Indo-European root: kent-
- Indo-European root: ker-
- Indo-European root: ker-
- Indo-European root: ker-
- Indo-European root: kerd-
- Indo-European root: kerp-
- Indo-European root: kers-
- Indo-European root: kerə-
- Indo-European root: kes-
- Indo-European root: keuə-
- Indo-European root: klei-
- Indo-European root: kleu-
- Indo-European root: ko-
- Indo-European root: kob-
- Indo-European root: kom
- Indo-European root: konk-
- Indo-European root: koro-
- Indo-European root: kost-
- Indo-European root: kous-
- Indo-European root: krei-
- Indo-European root: kreus-