Illustration of patagium
- P patagium 1
patagium
noun
pa·ta·gi·um
pə-ˈtā-jē-əm 
plural patagia
pə-ˈtā-jē-ə
1
: the fold of skin connecting the forelimbs and hind limbs of some tetrapods (such as flying squirrels)
2
: the fold of skin in front of the main segments of a bird's wing
Did you know?
In Latin, patagium referred to a gold edging or border on a woman's tunic, but in English its uses have been primarily scientific. It entered the English language in the early 19th century and was used by entomologists to refer to a process on the back of the foremost segment of an insect. Zoologists borrowed it as a word for the fold of skin of "flying" mammals and reptiles. Then ornithologists took the word to higher heights by the century's end, applying it to the forward part of the wings of birds.
Examples of patagium in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Bats, however, use a thin, fleshy membrane called a patagium to provide lift, in place of feathers.
—
Nathaniel Scharping, Discover Magazine, 8 May 2019
Flying squirrels don’t have their own means of propulsion, like a bird or bat, but glide using a furry membrane called the patagium that connects at their wrists down to their ankles.
—National Geographic, 21 Aug. 2020
The presence of a patagium—the skin linking the upper arm to the lower—helps generate lift and is an adaptation generally thought to be necessary for gliding or flight.
—National Geographic, 28 Feb. 2017
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Nathaniel Scharping, Discover Magazine, 8 May 2019
Flying squirrels don’t have their own means of propulsion, like a bird or bat, but glide using a furry membrane called the patagium that connects at their wrists down to their ankles.
—National Geographic, 21 Aug. 2020
The presence of a patagium—the skin linking the upper arm to the lower—helps generate lift and is an adaptation generally thought to be necessary for gliding or flight.
—National Geographic, 28 Feb. 2017
Dictionary Entries Near patagium
Cite this Entry
“Patagium.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/patagium. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share