coleopteron

n. any insect of the order Coleoptera, with front wings modified into sheaths to protect the hinder wings, e.g. a beetle or weevil.
Derivatives:
coleopterist n. coleopterous adj.
Etymology: mod.L Coleoptera f. Gk koleopteros f. koleon sheath + pteron wing

* * *

/koh'lee op"teuhr euhn, kol'ee-/, n., pl. coleoptera /-teuhr euh/.

a coleopterous insect; beetle. See illus. under beetle.

[1755-65; < NL < Gk: sing. of COLEOPTERA]

* * *

coleopteron

singular of Coleoptera, q.v.