petiole

[ pet-ee-ohl ]

noun

1. Botany. the slender stalk by which a leaf is attached to the stem; leafstalk.
2. Zoology. a stalk or peduncle, as that connecting the abdomen and thorax in wasps.

petiole

/ ˈpɛtɪˌəʊl /

noun

1. the stalk by which a leaf is attached to the rest of the plant
2. zoology a slender stalk or stem, such as the connection between the thorax and abdomen of ants

petiole

/ pĕt′ē-ōl′ /

1. See leafstalk

Word History and Origins

Origin of petiole¹

1745–55; < New Latin petiolus leafstalk, special use of Latin petiolus, scribal variant of peciolus, probably for *pediciolus, diminutive of pediculus pedicle

Word History and Origins

Origin of petiole¹

C18: via French from Latin petiolus little foot, from pēs foot

Example Sentences

"The abdomen and cephalothorax of spiders are closely attached, while in ants the equivalent of these body parts are separated by a narrow segment called the petiole," Poinar said.

From Science Daily

The petiole of the fourth leaf — the stalk that attaches it to the plant stem — from the top is identified as ideal.

From Salon

In the 1800s botanists proposed that the sheath part of a grass leaf represented the evolutionary equivalent of the petiole, the stalk that connects a typical plant’s leaf to its stem.

From Scientific American

Botanists have discovered that money is not only the root of all evil, but also its hypocotyl, petiole and axillary bud.

From Washington Post

His multiplication how-to: Take a leaf cutting, leaving as much petiole, or stalk, as possible.

From New York Times

Related Words

• frond
• needle
• petal
• stalk