[L. ‘little lip,’ dim. of labrum lip.]
1. Bot. The lower division or ‘lip’ of an orchidaceous corolla, often enlarged or curiously shaped.
1830. Lindley, Nat. Syst. Bot., 263. Sometimes it [sc. the anther] stands erect, the line of dehiscence of its lobes being turned towards the labellum.
1859. Darwin, Orig. Spec., vi. (1873), 154. This orchid has part of its labellum or lower lip hollowed out into a great bucket.
1882. Vines, Sachs’ Bot., 882. The labellum of Megaclinium falcatum.
2. Ent. One of a pair of tumid lobes terminating the proboscis of certain insects.
1826. Kirby & Sp., Entomol., III. 361.
