Word Study
springtail
CIDE DICTIONARY
springtail, n.
Any one of numerous species of small apterous insects belonging to the order Thysanura . They have two elastic caudal stylets which can be bent under the abdomen and then suddenly extended like a spring, thus enabling them to leap to a considerable distance. See Collembola, and Podura. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
springtail, n. any wingless insect of the order Collembola, leaping by means of a springlike caudal part.
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