aril

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: ar=il

CIDE DICTIONARY

aril, n. [From LL. arilli dry grapes, perh. fr. L. aridus dry: cf. F,. arille.].

 A exterior covering, forming a false coat or appendage to a seed, as the loose, transparent bag inclosing the seed of the white water lily. The mace of the nutmeg is also an aril.  Gray.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

aril, n. Bot. an extra seed-covering, often coloured and hairy or fleshy, e.g. the red fleshy cup around a yew seed.

Derivative

arillate adj.

Etymology

mod.L arillus: cf. med.L arilli dried grape-stones