Rectrix refers to the tail feathers that control a bird's flight direction, and less commonly, a woman who rules.
Rectrix refers to the primary feathers of a bird's tail that control flight direction, and can also mean a ruling woman.
| Front | rectrix \REK-triks\ |
|---|---|
| Back | noun Any of the quill feathers of a bird's tail that are important in controlling flight direction. [Although "rectrix" (from the Latin word "rectrix," the feminine of "rector," meaning "one that directs") has been an English word since the late 18th century, it has clung to its Latin plural "rectrices." This is not terribly unusual for a technical term like "rectrix." (Note also "cilium," whose more common plural "cilia" refers especially to the hairlike extensions on the exterior of some cells.) "Rectrix" has another meaning wholly unrelated to birds. It's also used (albeit rarely) to refer to a woman who rules or governs.] "In general, your only chance to see most or all of a bird's rectrices is when the bird is in flight." |
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