Definition

Noun: * Alula: A small tuft or group of stiff feathers attached to the first digit (the bird's equivalent of a thumb) of a bird's wing. It is not part of the main flight feathers and serves a specialized aerodynamic function.

Usage

The term "bastard wing" is a specific anatomical term used in ornithology (the study of birds) to describe a distinct physical structure. It is used literally.

Examples

• The bastard wing helps stabilize the bird's wing during slow flight and landing.
• Ornithologists studied the bastard wing to understand its role in preventing stalling.
• You can often see the bastard wing extended when a bird is coming in to perch.

Advanced Usage

• The bastard wing is more formally and commonly known as the alula. Using "alula" is preferred in modern scientific contexts.
• The function of the bastard wing is analogous to the leading-edge slats on an airplane wing, which improve lift at low speeds.

Variants and Related Words

• Alula (n.): The standard scientific term for the bastard wing.
• Calypter (n.): In some insects, a similar structure; not to be confused with the avian bastard wing.

Synonyms

• Alula
• False wing (less common)
• Spurious wing (archaic)

Notes on Meaning

The term "bastard" in this compound word uses an archaic meaning of "irregular," "non-standard," or "spurious," indicating that this structure is separate from and different in form and function from the main wing. The word itself, "bastard wing," is a fixed noun phrase referring to this single, specific anatomical feature.

Noun

1. tuft of small stiff feathers on the first digit of a bird's wing