Arista
/əˈrɪstə/noun
A bristle-like projection, especially the specialized antenna bristle of a fly or the pointed awn of a grass seed.
Did you know?In classical Latin, arista referred to the sharp bristle or awn of a grain head; modern zoology later borrowed the word for the prominent bristle on a fly’s antenna.
Etymological Timeline
Classical Latin
Latin
arista
“The awn or bristly point of a grain, especially the beard of an ear of wheat”
Medieval Latin
Latin
arista
“A spike, awn, or pointed bristle”
12th–13th Century
Old French
areste
“A fishbone, rib, or sharp projecting edge; a development of Latin arista”
14th Century
Middle English
ariste
“A sharp ridge, edge, or bristle-like projection”
17th Century
English
arista
“A botanical awn or bristle”
19th Century
Scientific English
arista
“The specialized bristle or appendage of an insect antenna, particularly in flies”
Modern English
English
arista
“A bristle-like projection in botany, zoology, or anatomy”