n.
Pronunciation: ' kär-t ə -lij, ' kärt-lij
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin cartilagin-, cartilago
Date: 15th century
1 : a usually translucent somewhat elastic tissue that composes most of the skeleton of vertebrate embryos and except for a small number of structures (as some joints, respiratory passages, and the external ear) is replaced by bone during ossification in the higher vertebrates
2 : a part or structure composed of cartilage