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Webster 1913 Edition


Springtail

Spring′tailˊ

(-tālˊ)
,
Noun.
(Zool.)
Any one of numerous species of small apterous insects belonging to the order
Thysanura
. They have two elastic caudal stylets which can be bent under the abdomen and then suddenly extended like a spring, thus enabling them to leap to a considerable distance. See
Collembola
, and
Podura
.