Word Study
chela
CIDE DICTIONARY
chela, n. [NL., fr. Gr. chhlh` claw.].
The pincherlike claw of Crustacea and Arachnida. [1913 Webster]
chela, n. [Hind. ch, orig., slave, fr. Skr. c, c, slave, servant.].
In India, a dependent person occupying a position between that of a servant or slave and a disciple; hence, a disciple or novice. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
chela, n. (pl. chelae) a prehensile claw of crabs, lobsters, scorpions, etc.
chela, n.
1 (in esoteric Buddhism) a novice qualifying for initiation.
2 a disciple; a pupil.
1 (in esoteric Buddhism) a novice qualifying for initiation.
2 a disciple; a pupil.
Etymology
Hindi, = servant
ROGET THESAURUS
chela
Learner
N learner, scholar, student, pupil, apprentice, prentice, journeyman, articled clerk, beginner, tyro, amateur, rank amateur, abecedarian, alphabetarian, alumnus, eleve, recruit, raw recruit, novice, neophyte, inceptor, catechumen, probationer, seminarian, chela, fellow-commoner, debutant, intern, resident, schoolboy, fresh, freshman, frosh, junior soph, junior, senior soph, senior, sophister, sophomore, questionist, undergraduate, graduate student, law student, medical student, pre-med, post-doctoral student, post-doc, matriculated student, part-time student, night student, auditor, class, grade, seminar, form, remove, pupilage, disciple, follower, apostle, proselyte, fellow-student, condisciple, school, in statu pupillari, in leading strings, practise makes perfect.For further exploring for "chela" in Webster Dictionary Online