WATTLE
Wattle
A wattle is a fleshy caruncle hanging from various parts of the head or neck in several groups of birds, mammals and other animals. A caruncle is defined as 'A small, fleshy excrescence that is a normal part of an animal's anatomy'.1 Within this definition, caruncles in birds include wattles, dewlaps, snoods and earlobes. Wattles are generally paired structures but may occur as a single structure when it is sometimes known as a dewlap. Wattles are frequently organs of sexual dimorphism. In some birds, caruncles are erectile tissue and may or may not have a feather covering.The above text is a snippet from Wikipedia: Wattle (anatomy)
and as such is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
wattle
Noun
- A construction of branches and twigs woven together to form a wall, barrier, fence, or roof.
- A single twig or rod laid on a roof to support the thatch.
- A wrinkled fold of skin, sometimes brightly coloured, hanging from the neck of birds (such as chicken and turkey) and some lizards.
- A barbel of a fish.
- A decorative fleshy appendage on the neck of a goat.
- Loose hanging skin in the neck of a person.
- Any of several Australian trees and shrubs of the genus Acacia, or their bark, used in tanning.
Verb
- To construct a wattle, or make a construction of wattles.
The above text is a snippet from Wiktionary: wattle
and as such is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.