ligula
Lig"u*la, n.; pl. L. Ligulæ, E. Ligulas. Etym: [L., a little tongue. See Ligule.] 1. (Bot.) Defn: See Ligule. 2. (Zoöl.) (a) The central process, or front edge, of the labium of insects. It sometimes serves as a tongue or proboscis, as in bees. [See Illust. under Labium, and Hymenoptera.] (b) A tongue-shaped lobe of the parapodia of annelids. See Parapodium.