— incudate /ing"kyeuh dayt', -dit, in"-/ , incudal /ing"kyeuh dl, in"-/ , adj.
/ing"keuhs/ , n. , pl. incudes /in kyooh"deez/ for 1; incus for 2.
1. Anat. the middle one of a chain of three small bones in the middle ear of humans and other mammals. Cf. malleus, stapes . See diag. under ear .
2. Also called anvil, anvil cloud, anvil top, thunderhead . the spreading, anvil-shaped, upper portion of a mature cumulonimbus cloud, smooth or slightly fibrous in appearance.
[ 1660-70; incus anvil, equiv. to incud- (s. of incudere to hammer, beat upon) + - s nom. sing. ending; see INCUSE ]