n. Any of various widely distributed insect-eating bats of the family Vespertilionidae, characterized by a long tail. [From New Latin Vespertiliōnidae, family name, from Vespertiliō, Vespertiliōn-, type genus, from Latin vespertiliō, bat, from vesper, evening; see wes-pero- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] ves′per·tili·nid adj. |
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