pedipalp

noun

ped·​i·​palp ˈpe-də-ˌpalp How to pronounce pedipalp (audio)
: either of the second pair of appendages of various arthropods (such as an arachnid or horseshoe crab) that lie on each side of the mouth and often perform a specialized function (such as grasping or feeling)

Note: Pedipalps are typically small and leglike in spiders, and large and pincerlike in scorpions.

Examples of pedipalp in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The set includes Aragog with poseable legs, fangs, and pedipalps, as well as baby spiders, accessories, and minifigures of the two characters with faces that can change from happy to scared. — Mia Huelsbeck, People.com, 18 Dec. 2024 Once mating commences, the male spider uses his pedipalps (specialized legs) to transfer sperm to the female. — Jake Parks, Discover Magazine, 14 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

New Latin pedipalpus, from ped-, pes foot + palpus palpus

First Known Use

1826, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pedipalp was in 1826

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Cite this Entry

“Pedipalp.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pedipalp. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on pedipalp

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pedipalp

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