Word Study
halteres (root: halter)
CIDE DICTIONARY
halteres, n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. "alth^res weights used in jumping, fr. "a`llesqai to leap.].
Balancers; the rudimentary hind wings of Diptera. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
halteres, n.pl. the balancing-organs of dipterous insects.
Etymology
Gk, = weights used to aid leaping f. hallomai to leap
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