n.
Pronunciation: ' st ā -( ˌ )p ē z
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural stapes or sta · pe · des \ ' st ā -p ə - ˌ d ē z \
Etymology: New Latin staped-, stapes, from Medieval Latin, stirrup, alteration of Late Latin stapia
Date: 1615
: the innermost ossicle of the middle ear of mammals ― called also stirrup ― see EAR illustration