Category:Osculant

Os"cu*lant, a. Etym: [l. osculans, -antis, p. pr. of osculari to Kiss. See osculate.]

1. Kissing; hence, meeting; clinging.

2. (zoöl.)

Defn: adhering closely; embracing; -- applied to certain creeping Animals, as caterpillars.

3. (biol.)

Defn: intermediate in character, or on the border, between two Genera, groups, families, etc., of animals or plants, and partaking Somewhat of the characters of each, thus forming a connecting link; Interosculant; as, the genera by which two families approximate are Called osculant genera.