Gnathotheca
/ˌɡnæθəˈθiːkə/noun
The horny sheath covering the mandible of a bird, especially its lower mandible.
Did you know?In bird anatomy, the upper beak covering is called the rhinotheca, while the gnathotheca generally refers to the covering of the lower mandible.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
γνάθος (gnáthos)
“Jaw or jawbone”
Ancient Greek
Greek
θήκη (thḗkē)
“Case, sheath, or container”
19th Century
New Latin
gnathotheca
“A scientific compound meaning a sheath or case associated with the jaw”
19th Century
Zoological English
gnathotheca
“The horny covering of a bird’s mandible”
Modern English
English
gnathotheca
“The beak-like horny sheath over a bird’s mandible”
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