Impennate is a rarely used word that means to remove or cut off the wings of a bird. The word is spelled with the prefix "im" meaning not or without, and the stem "pennate" meaning winged or feathered. The correct pronunciation of impennate is im-pen-eyt with stress on the second syllable. The IPA phonetic transcription of impennate is ɪmˈpɛneɪt. This word is commonly used in ornithology to describe the process of wing-clipping of a bird for research or other purposes.
Having very short wings, and useless for flight; of the tribe.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
The word "impennate" originates from the combination of two Latin roots: "in-" meaning "not" or "without", and "penna" meaning "feather". In Latin, "penna" is derived from "pinna", which means "wing" or "feather". Thus, "impennate" refers to something or someone without feathers or wings.