‖ frænum, frenum
(ˈfriːnəm)
Pl. fræna, frena.
[L. frēnum, frænum, bridle.]
1. Anat. A small ligament or membranous fold which bridles or restrains the motion of the organ to which it is attached; e.g. that of the tongue.
| 1741 Monro Anat. (ed. 3) 147 The Frænum of the Tongue. 1754–64 [see fourchette 1 a.]. 1807–26 S. Cooper First Lines Surg. (ed. 5) 382 In persons born dumb, the state of the frænum should always be examined. 1872 Cohen Dis. Throat 51 The glosso-epiglottic fold..or frænum of the epiglottis. |
2. (See quot. 1859.)
| 1859 Darwin Orig. Spec. vi. 192 Pedunculated cirripedes have two minute folds of skin, called by me the ovigerous frena, which serve, through the means of a sticky secretion, to retain the eggs until they are hatched. 1877 Huxley Anat. Inv. Anim. vi. 295 The ovigerous fræna of Lepas. |