chelicera

2 definitions found

chelicera - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Chelicera \Che*lic"e*ra\ (k[-e]*l[i^]s"[-e]*r[.a]), n.; pl.
     Chelicer[ae] (-r[=e]). [NL., fr. Gr. chhlh` claw + ke`ras
     horn.] (Zool.)
     One of the anterior pair of mouth organs, terminated by a
     pincherlike claw, in scorpions and allied Arachnida. They are
     homologous with the falcers of spiders, and probably with the
     mandibles of insects.
     [1913 Webster]

chelicera - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  chelicera
      n 1: either of the first pair of fang-like appendages near the
           mouth of an arachnid; often modified for grasping and
           piercing