haltere

haltere [ˈhæltɪə], halter [ˈhæltə]

n pl halteres [hælˈtɪəriːz]

(Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Zoology) one of a pair of short projections in dipterous insects that are modified hind wings, used for maintaining equilibrium during flight Also called balancer

[from Greek haltēres (plural) hand-held weights used as balancers or to give impetus in leaping, from hallesthai to leap]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

haltere - either of the rudimentary hind wings of dipterous insects; used for maintaining equilibrium during flight balancer, halter wing - a movable organ for flying (one of a pair) dipteran, dipteron, dipterous insect, two-winged insects - insects having usually a single pair of functional wings (anterior pair) with the posterior pair reduced to small knobbed structures and mouth parts adapted for sucking or lapping or piercing