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pe·dun·cle

(pĭ-dŭngkəl, pēdŭng′kəl)

1. Botany The stalk of an inflorescence or a stalk bearing a solitary flower in a one-flowered inflorescence.

2. Zoology A stalklike structure in invertebrate animals, usually serving as an attachment for a larger part or structure.

3. Anatomy A stalklike bundle of nerve fibers connecting different parts of the brain.

4. Medicine The stalklike base to which a polyp or tumor is attached.

[New Latin pedunculus, diminutive of Latin pēs, ped-, foot; see ped- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

pe·duncu·lar (pĭ-dŭngkyə-lər) adj.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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