Halteres

3 definitions found

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

  Halteres \Hal*te"res\ (h[a^]l*t[=e]"r[=e]z), n. pl. [NL., fr.
     Gr. "alth^res weights used in jumping, fr. "a`llesqai to
     leap.] (Zool.)
     Balancers; the rudimentary hind wings of Diptera.
     [1913 Webster]



From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  halter
       n 1: rope or canvas headgear for a horse, with a rope for leading
            [syn: {hackamore}]
       2: a rope that is used by a hangman to execute persons who have
          been condemned to death by hanging [syn: {hangman's rope},
           {hangman's halter}, {hemp}, {hempen necktie}]
       3: a woman's top that fastens behind the back and neck leaving
          the back and arms uncovered
       4: either of the club-like rudimentary hind wings of dipterous
          insects; used for maintaining equilibrium during flight
          [syn: {haltere}, {balancer}]
       v 1: hang with a halter
       2: prevent the progress or free movement of; "He was hampered
          in his efforts by the bad weather"; "the imperilist nation
          wanted to strangle the free trade between the two small
          countries" [syn: {hamper}, {cramp}, {strangle}]
       [also: {halteres} (pl)]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  halteres
       See {halter}