1 haltere | Definition of haltere

haltere

noun
hal·​tere | \ ˈhȯl-ËŒtir How to pronounce haltere (audio) , ˈhal-\
plural halteres\ ˈhȯl-​ËŒtirz How to pronounce halteres (audio) , ˈhal-​ ; hȯl-​ˈtir-​Ä“z , hal-​ \

Definition of haltere

: one of a pair of club-shaped organs in a dipteran fly that are the modified second pair of wings and function as sensory flight stabilizers

First Known Use of haltere

circa 1823, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for haltere

New Latin halter, from Latin, jumping weight, from Greek haltēr, from hallesthai to leap — more at sally

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More from Merriam-Webster on haltere

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about haltere