Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary
pa·tel·la
\\pə-ˈte-lə\\ noun
(plural pa·tel·lae \\-ˈte-(ˌ)lē, -ˌlī \\ ; or -las) ETYMOLOGY Latin, from diminutive of patina shallow dish
DATE 1693
: a thick flat triangular movable bone that forms the anterior point of the knee and protects the front of the joint — called also
kneecap
•
pa·tel·lar \\-ˈte-lər\\
adjective patella
"knee cap," 1693, from L. patella "pan, kneecap," dim. of patina "pan" (see paten). So called from its shape.
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary-牛津双解-OALD7
patellapa·tel·la /
pE5telE /
noun (pl.
pa·tel·lae /
-li: / )
(anatomy 解) the
kneecap
膝盖骨;髌骨 Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged
Search result show the entry is found in:
patella ulnaris
pa·tel·la
\pəˈtelə\
nounEtymology: Latin, diminutive of
patina pan — more at
paten
1. plural pa·tel·lae \-eˌlē, -ˌlī\
: a small dish, pan, or vase of ancient Rome
2. plural patellae or patellas
a. : a thick flat triangular movable bone that forms the anterior point of the knee and protects the front of the joint, increases the leverage of the quadriceps, and is usually regarded as a sesamoid bone since it is developed in the tendon of the quadriceps and in structure is similar to other sesamoid bones
: kneecap
,
kneepan
b. [New Latin, from Latin]
: the fourth segment in the pedipalpus or in the leg of an arachnid
3. plural patellae [New Latin, from Latin]
: a rounded apothecium in a lichen that has a distinct marginal rim
4. [New Latin, from Latin]
a. capitalized : the type genus of the family Patellidae including the common European limpet (
P. vulgata)
b. plural patellas or patellae : a limpet of the family Patellidae