cupule

C3U1P3U1L1E1

noun

Any small structure shaped like a cup, such as at the base of an acorn, or the sucker on the feet of some flies.

Similar
acorn cup
OriginEnglish cup ← Middle English cuppe, coppe ← Old English copp →
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Meanings

nouncupule (plural cupules)

plural cupules

  1. Any small structure shaped like a cup, such as at the base of an acorn, or the sucker on the feet of some flies.

    Then they extract a three-angled beechnut from its cupule, weigh it, and push it into the loam.

    2018, Richard Powers, The Overstory, Vintage (2019), page 146

Synonyms & antonyms

nouncup-shaped structure of hardened bracts at the base of an acorn

Similar
acorn cup
Broader
cup
Also see
acorn cup

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*kewp-
  2. Latincūpa
  3. Frankish*koppinflu.?
  4. Late Latincuppabor.?
  5. Proto-Indo-European*gew-
  6. Proto-Germanic*kuppaz?
  7. Old Englishcuppe
  8. Proto-Germanic*kuppaz
  9. Old Englishcopp
  10. Middle Englishcuppe, coppe
  11. Englishcup
  12. Englishcupule

From cup + -ule.; former is derived from Old English copp of Germanic origin thus not related (false cognate) to cupula of Latin origin, but perhaps influenced it

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Italian mallo
  • mallosmall structure shaped like a cup
Polish kupula
  • kupulasmall structure shaped like a cup
Cite this entry
APA

cupule. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cupule

MLA

“cupule.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cupule. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “cupule,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cupule.

Source: cupule on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.