Nearby Words

cloacae

[kloh-ey-kuh] Origin

clo·a·ca

[kloh-ey-kuh]
noun, plural -cae [-see] .
1.
Zoology.
a.
the common cavity into which the intestinal, urinary, and generative canals open in birds, reptiles, amphibians, many fishes, and certain mammals.
b.
a similar cavity in invertebrates.
2.
a sewer, especially an ancient sewer.

Origin:
1650–60; < Latin clo(u)āca, cluāca sewer, drain; probably akin to Greek klýzein to wash, wash away

clo·a·cal, adjective
pre·clo·a·cal, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Cloacae is always a great word to know.
So is flibbertigibbet. Does it mean:
a chattering or flighty, light-headed person.
a fool or simpleton; ninny.
Etymonline
Word Origin & History

cloaca
1656, Mod.L., euphemism for "sewer," from L. cloaca "sewer," from cluere "to cleanse," from PIE base *klu- "to rinse, clean."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary

cloaca clo·a·ca (klō-ā'kə)
n.

  1. In early embryos, the entodermally lined chamber into which the hindgut and allantois empty.

  2. The common cavity into which the intestinal, genital, and urinary tracts open in vertebrates such as fish, reptiles, birds, and some mammals.

  3. An opening in a diseased bone containing a fragment of dead bone.


clo·a'cal (-kəl) adj.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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American Heritage
Science Dictionary
cloaca   (klō-ā'kə)  Pronunciation Key 
Plural cloacae (klō-ā'sē')
  1. The body cavity into which the intestinal, urinary, and genital canals empty in birds, reptiles, amphibians, most fish, and monotremes. The cloaca has an opening for expelling its contents from the body, and in females it serves as the depository for sperm. Also called vent.

  2. See vent.


The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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