alula

al·u·la

A0234400 (ăl′yə-lə)n. pl. al·u·lae (-lē′) A small joint in the middle of a bird's wing, homologous with the thumb and bearing three or four quill-like feathers. Also called bastard wing.

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[New Latin, diminutive of Latin āla, wing.]

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al′u·lar (-lər) adj.

alula

(ˈæljʊlə) n, pl -lae (-liː) (Zoology) another name for bastard wing[C18: New Latin: a little wing, from Latin āla a wing] ˈalular adj

al•u•la

(ˈæl yə lə)

n., pl. -lae (-ˌli) 1. Also called bastard wing , winglet. a group of small, relatively stiff feathers at the inner end of a bird's wing. 2. a membranous lobe at the base of each wing of a dipterous insect. [1765–75; < New Latin, diminutive of Latin āla wing; see ala, -ule]

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	alula - scalelike structure between the base of the wing and the halter of a two-winged flycalyptersquama - a protective structure resembling a scalefly - two-winged insects characterized by active flight
	2.	alula - tuft of small stiff feathers on the first digit of a bird's wingbastard wing, spurious wingfeather, plumage, plume - the light horny waterproof structure forming the external covering of birdswing - a movable organ for flying (one of a pair)