Centrolecithal
/ˌsɛntrəʊˈlɛsɪθəl/noun
Having yolk concentrated in the center of an egg, with cytoplasm surrounding it.
Did you know?Centrolecithal eggs occur in insects, where the centrally placed yolk supports development while nuclei divide around it before cell boundaries form.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*kent-
“To prick or pierce; the root associated with a pointed tool and later with a central point.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
kéntron
“A sharp point, goad, or pointed instrument; later, the center of a circle.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
lékythos
“An oil flask; the word was later associated in scientific terminology with yolk.”
19th Century
Scientific Latin
centrolecithal
“Formed from centro- (“center”) and -lecithal (“relating to yolk”) to describe centrally yolked eggs.”
Modern English
English
centrolecithal
“Having yolk concentrated at the center of the egg.”