elater

E*lat"er, n. Defn: One who, or that which, elates. El"a*ter, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. 1. (Bot.) Defn: An elastic spiral filament for dispersing the spores, as in some liverworts. 2. (Zoöl.) Defn: Any beetle of the family Elateridæ, having the habit, when laid on the back, of giving a sudden upward spring, by a quick movement of the articulation between the abdomen and thorax; -- called also click beetle, spring beetle, and snapping beetle. 3. (Zoöl.) Defn: The caudal spring used by Podura and related insects for leaping. See Collembola. El"a*ter, n. (Chem.) Defn: The active principle of elaterium, being found in the juice of the wild or squirting cucumber (Ecballium agreste, formerly Motordica Elaterium) and other related species. It is extracted as a bitter, white, crystalline substance, which is a violent purgative.

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