tergite

noun

ter·gite ˈtər-ˌgīt

: the dorsal plate or dorsal portion of the covering of a metameric segment of an arthropod

especially : one on the abdomen

Word History

Etymology

New Latin tergum

First Known Use

1868, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of tergite was in 1868

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Tergite.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tergite. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.

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