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Ossicle

//ˈɒsɪkəl// noun

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A small bone (or bony structure), especially one of the three of the middle ear.

    "The incus is one of the three auditory ossicles."

  2. 2
    a small bone; especially one in the middle ear wordnet
  3. 3
    Bone-like joint or plate, especially

    "The skeleton of echinoderms is made of ossicles, linked to each other via muscles and connective tissue."

  4. 4
    Bone-like joint or plate, especially:; one of numerous small calcareous structures forming the skeleton of certain echinoderms, as the starfishes;
  5. 5
    Bone-like joint or plate, especially:; one of the hard articuli or joints of the stem or branches of a crinoid or encrinite;
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  1. 6
    Bone-like joint or plate, especially:; one of the several small hard chitinous parts or processes of the gastric skeleton of crustaceans, as in the stomach of a lobster or crawfish.

Etymology

Late 16th century, from Latin ossiculum (“little bone, ossicle”) from os (“bone”).

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