ˌepəˈgläd.ə̇s, -ätə̇s, ˈ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ noun
Etymology: New Latin, from Greek epiglōttis, from epi- + glōttis glottis — more at glottis
1. : a thin lamella of yellow elastic cartilage that ordinarily projects upward behind the tongue and just in front of the glottis and that with the arytenoid cartilages serves to cover the glottis during the act of swallowing
2. : the epistome of a bryozoan
3. : the epipharynx of an insect