Tapetum

1 definition found

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

  Tapetum \Ta*pe"tum\, n. [NL., from L. tapete a carpet, a
     tapestry.] (Anat.)
     An area in the pigmented layer of the choroid coat of the eye
     in many animals, which has an iridescent or metallic luster
     and helps to make the eye visible in the dark. Sometimes
     applied to the whole layer of pigmented epithelium of the


     choroid.
     [1913 Webster]