perigynium

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UK/pɛɹɪˈd͡ʒɪnɪəm/

noun

A specialized sheath-like bract that surrounds the ovary or fruit of some flowering plants, especially those in the family Cyperaceae (sedges); utricle.

OriginNew Latin perigynium ← Ancient Greek γῠνή →
Scrabble 18
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Meanings

nounperigynium (plural perigynia)

plural perigynia · alternative rare perigyne

  1. biologyA specialized sheath-like bract that surrounds the ovary or fruit of some flowering plants, especially those in the family Cyperaceae (sedges); utricle.

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
perigyne

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekγῠνή“woman”
  2. New Latinperigynium
  3. Englishperigynium

Borrowed from New Latin perigynium, from peri- + Ancient Greek γῠνή (gŭnḗ, “woman”) + -ium.

More words from New Latin, Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

perigynium. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/perigynium

MLA

“perigynium.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/perigynium. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “perigynium,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/perigynium.

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