hemipenis

English

Etymology

From hemi- +‎ penis.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈhɛ.mɪ.piː.nɪs/

Noun

Everted hemipenis of a North American rattlesnake (Crotalus adamanteus).

hemipenis (plural hemipenes or hemipenises)

1. (anatomy, zoology) Each of a pair of intromittent organs of male snakes and lizards, usually held inverted within the body but everted for reproduction via erectile tissue.
   • 1985, Peter Carey, Illywhacker, Faber and Faber, published 2003, page 475:

     Charles […] found her stroking the goanna in such a way – no one else could do it – that its pale hemipenes emerged pale and spiky from their sheaths.

Synonyms

• hemipeen
• hemipene

Coordinate terms

• clitoris
• hemiclitoris
• penis

Derived terms

• hemipenal
• hemipenial
• hemipenile