Meanings
nounscutellum (plural scutella)
plural scutella
- Any of several shield-shaped structures in insects, grasses etc
- biologyA rounded apothecium having an elevated rim formed of the proper thallus, the fructification of certain lichens.
- biologyThe third of the four pieces forming the upper part of a thoracic segment of an insect. It follows the scutum, and is followed by the small postscutellum.
- biologyOne of the transverse scales on the tarsi and toes of birds.
- biologyA grass seed cotyledon that is highly modified for absorption.
Origin
- Latinscūtum“shield”
- New Latinscūtellum
- Englishscutellum
Borrowed from New Latin scūtellum, diminutive of Latin scūtum (“shield”).
More words from New Latin, Latin
Full word history & related roots →Translations
French scutellum
- scutellumshield-shaped structure
German Scutellum, Schildchen
- Scutellumshield-shaped structure
- Schildchenshield-shaped structure
Italian scutello
- scutelloshield-shaped structure
Latin scūtellum
- scūtellumshield-shaped structure
Portuguese escutelo
- escuteloshield-shaped structure
Spanish escutelo
- escuteloshield-shaped structure
Rhymes & wordplay
Rhymes with scutellum
vellumcerebellumantebellumflagellumAbelamarchicerebellumcapitellumcerebrocerebellumclitellumflabellumhaustellumlabellumneocerebellumpaleocerebellumpostbellumrostellumskellumspinocerebellumstatus quo ante bellumvestibulocerebellum
All rhymes →Cite this entry
APA
scutellum. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/scutellum
MLA
“scutellum.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/scutellum. Accessed November 4, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “scutellum,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/scutellum.
Source: scutellum on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.