epiglottis
noun /ˌepɪˈɡlɒtɪs/
/ˌepɪˈɡlɑːtɪs/
(anatomy)- a thin piece of tissue behind the tongue that prevents food or drink from entering the lungsWord Originlate Middle English: from Greek epiglōttis, from epi ‘upon, near to’ + glōtta ‘tongue’.