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bastard wing

   Also found in: Medical, Legal, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia 0.12 sec.
bastard wing
n.
See alula.
bastard wing
n
(Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Zoology) a tuft of feathers attached to the first digit of a bird, distinct from the wing feathers attached to the other digits and the ulna Also called alula
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.bastard wing - tuft of small stiff feathers on the first digit of a bird's wing
spurious wing, alula
feather, plumage, plume - the light horny waterproof structure forming the external covering of birds
wing - a movable organ for flying (one of a pair)


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? Mentioned in ? References in periodicals archive
 
During slow flight, birds make use of a special structure called a bastard wing, or alula, which consists of several feathers attached to the first digit of the wing bones.
Evolution's fast track toward slow flight by Monastersky, Richard / Science News
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