Elater

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: el=a=ter

CIDE DICTIONARY

Elater, n. 

 One who, or that which, elates.  [1913 Webster]

Elater, n. [NL., fr. Gr. driver, fr. to drive.].

•  An elastic spiral filament for dispersing the spores, as in some liverworts.  [1913 Webster]
•  Any beetle of the family Elateridæ, having the habit, when laid on the back, of giving a sudden upward spring, by a quick movement of the articulation between the abdomen and thorax; -- called also click beetle, spring beetle, and snapping beetle.  [1913 Webster]
•  The caudal spring used by Podura and related insects for leaping. See Collembola.  [1913 Webster]

Elater, n. 

 The active principle of elaterium, being found in the juice of the wild or squirting cucumber (Ecballium agreste, formerly Motordica Elaterium) and other related species. It is extracted as a bitter, white, crystalline substance, which is a violent purgative.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Elater, n. a click beetle.

Etymology

mod.L f. Gk elater driver f. elauno drive