Columella

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˌkɒləˈmɛlə/

Definitions

1. A slender, often cylindrical formation present in plants, fungi, or certain animals
2. a supportive and structural element in anatomy, especially within the ear or nasal passages
3. A narrow central pillar found in various organisms that provides support ; a small bone or cartilage in the middle ear that aids in transmitting sound

Etymology: Latin "columella" is simply the diminutive of "columna," "column," so it means "little column." The diminutive ending "-ella" (a smaller version of "columna") is what gives the word its sense of something slender. In English the term is used for the slender central pillar or axis of a structure, such as the central column of a spiral staircase or the stalk-like central axis in certain plant and animal structures. The word's pedigree is therefore plain: a Latin noun formed from a base word plus a diminutive suffix. Its meaning stayed close to the literal sense of a small column, which is why the English term still describes a thin supporting shaft rather than an abstract idea.