incus

[ing-kuh s] /ˈɪŋ kəs/

noun, plural incudes

[in-kyoo-deez] /ɪnˈkyu diz/ (Show IPA), for 1; incus for 2.

Anatomy. the middle one of a chain of three small bones in the middle ear of humans and other mammals.

Also called anvil, anvil cloud, anvil top, thunderhead. the spreading, anvil-shaped, upper portion of a mature cumulonimbus cloud, smooth or slightly fibrous in appearance.

Origin

1660-70; < New Latin, Latin incūs anvil, equivalent to incūd- (stem of incūdere to hammer, beat upon) + -s nominative singular ending; see incuse

Related forms

incudate

[ing-kyuh-deyt, -dit, in-] /ˈɪŋ kyəˌdeɪt, -dɪt, ˈɪn-/ (Show IPA), incudal

[ing-kyuh-dl, in-] /ˈɪŋ kyə dl, ˈɪn-/ (Show IPA), adjective

British Dictionary definitions for incus

incus

/ˈɪŋkəs/

noun (pl) incudes (ɪnˈkjuːdiːz)

the central of the three small bones in the middle ear of mammals Nontechnical name anvil Compare malleus, stapes

Derived Forms

incudate (ˈɪŋkjʊˌdeɪt), incudal (ˈɪŋkjʊdəl) adjective

Word Origin

C17: from Latin: anvil, from incūdere to forge

Word Origin and History for incus

ear bone, 1660s, from Latin incus "anvil," from incudere "to forge with a hammer." So called by Belgian anatomist Andreas Vesalius (1514-1564).

incus in Medicine

incus in·cus (ĭng'kəs)
n. pl. in·cu·des (ĭng-kyōō'dēz)
The middle of the three ossicles in the middle ear, located between the malleus and the stapes and composed of a body and two limbs. Also called anvil.

incus in Science

incus

(ĭng-ky'dēz)
Plural incudes (ĭng-ky'dēz)

The anvil-shaped bone (ossicle) that lies between the malleus and the stapes in the middle ear.
The elongated, often anvil-shaped upper portion of a fully developed cumulonimbus cloud; a thunderhead.