Alula

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A small, thumb-like projection on the wing of some birds that aids in maneuverability during flight
2. A structural feature found on the wings of certain avian species, enhancing their ability to steer and control aerial movement
3. A protrusion located at the base of the wing, crucial for improved navigation and stability in flight patterns of birds

Etymology: The small projecting feather-covered part on a bird's wing that helps it control flight at low speeds has a name borrowed from Latin "ala," meaning "wing." English took the Latin word and added a diminutive ending, "-ula," so the result literally means "little wing." The Latin "ala" itself is linked to "axis," and some scholars trace both back to a common ancestor, although the exact path is debated. The English form "alula" was built in this way from Latin, but the pattern is familiar: "-ula" shrinks a noun into something small, much as "globule" is a little globe. The ending is Latin, and the scientific use it serves is precise: ornithologists needed a label for a feature that is easy to overlook on a living bird.

Synonyms: bastard wing, thumb wing