[pet.i.ole] n [NL petiolus, fr. L petiolus, peciolus small foot, fruit stalk, prob. alter. of (assumed) L pediciolus, dim. of pediculus, dim. of ped-, pes foot--more at foot] (1753) 1: a slender stem that supports the blade of a foliage leaf
2: peduncle; specif: a slender abdominal segment joining the rest of the abdomen to the thorax in some insects -- pet.i.oled adj