/skyooh tel"euhm/ , n. , pl. scutella /-tel"euh/ .
1. Bot. the shieldlike cotyledon of certain monocots.
2. Zool. a small plate, scutum, or other shieldlike part, as on the thorax of insects or the feet of birds.
[ 1750-60; scut ( um ) shield (see SCUTE) + -ellum dim. suffix ]