hibernaculum

[ hahy-ber-nak-yuh-luhm ]

noun

, plural hi·ber·nac·u·la [hahy-ber-, nak, -y, uh, -l, uh].

1. a protective case or covering, especially for winter, as of an animal or a plant bud.
2. winter quarters, as of a hibernating animal.

hibernaculum

/ ˌhaɪbəˈnækjʊləm; ˈhaɪbəˌnækəl /

noun

1. the winter quarters of a hibernating animal
2. the protective case or covering of a plant bud or animal

hibernaculum

/ hī′-bər-năk′yə-ləm /

1. A protective case, covering, or structure, such as a plant bud, in which an organism remains dormant for the winter.
2. The shelter of a hibernating animal.

Word History and Origins

Origin of hibernaculum¹

First recorded in 1690–1700; from Latin hībernāculum “winter residence,” equivalent to hībernā(re) “to spend the winter” + -culum suffix denoting place

Word History and Origins

Origin of hibernaculum¹

C17: from Latin: winter residence; see hibernate

Example Sentences

At one point in “Kentucky Route Zero,” we encounter a carefully preserved cave for bats, complete with museum-like notations on perches, Conway asks a question the game seems to be raising throughout, and one that should resonate for anyone living in Los Angeles in the midst of our city’s homelessness crisis: “Who’s gonna build the people hibernaculum?”

From Los Angeles Times

Eric Weaver, the monument’s branch chief of natural resources, says Junction Cave has the largest known hibernaculum in the monument for Townsend’s big-eared bats.

From Washington Times

He says human disturbance during hibernation can cause significant impacts to bats and may even result in the abandonment of the cave as a hibernaculum.

From Washington Times

Spellers had to ace common words such as “intolerable” and “detrimental” as well as more obscure terms such as “annus mirabilis” and “hibernaculum.”

From Reuters

Spellers still competing had to ace common words, such as “intolerable” and “detrimental”, along with more obscure words, such as “annus mirabilis” and “hibernaculum”.

From Reuters