Aculeus

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Aculeus \A*cu"le*us\, n.; pl. {Aculei}. [L., dim. of acus
     needle.]
     1. (Bot.) A prickle growing on the bark, as in some brambles
        and roses. --Lindley.
        [1913 Webster]
  


     2. (Zool.) A sting.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  aculeus
       n 1: a stiff sharp-pointed plant process
       2: a sharp-pointed process especially a sting of a
          hymenopterous insect