Ligula \Lig"u*la\ (l[i^]g"[-u]*l[.a]), n.; pl. L. {Ligul[ae]}
(-l[=e]), E. {Ligulas} (-l[.a]z). [L., a little tongue. See
{Ligule}.]
1. (Bot.) See {Ligule}.
[1913 Webster]
2. (Zool.)
(a) The central process, or front edge, of the labium of
insects. It sometimes serves as a tongue or proboscis,
as in bees. [See Illust. under {Labium}, and
{Hymenoptera}.]
(b) A tongue-shaped lobe of the parapodia of annelids. See
{Parapodium}.
[1913 Webster] Ligulate