English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈkilə/

Noun

chela ‎(plural chelae)

1. A pincer-like claw of a crustacean or arachnid.
   • 1646, Sir Thomas Browne, Pseudodoxia Epidemica, III.5:

     It happeneth often, I confess, that a lobster hath the chely or great claw of one side longer than the other [...].

   • 1993, The Encyclopedia of Land Invertebrate Behaviour, p. 232:

     The tail is curved up over the body and the pedipalps held forwards with the tip of the movable finger of the chela in contact with the sand.

   • 2004, Raymond T. Bauer, Remarkable Shrimps: Adaptations and Natural History of the Carideans, page 26,

     The two brushes on each chela snap open into semicircular fans, forming fine-mesh baskets that passively filter water.

Derived terms

Translations

Etymology 2

Borrowing from Hindi चेला ‎(celā).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈt͡ʃei.lə/

Noun

chela ‎(plural chelas or chele)

1. A pupil or disciple, especially in Hinduism.
   • 1987, Phirozshah Dorabji Mehta, The Heart of Religion, page 36,

     The guru had insight. He understood his chela. The relationship between a guru and his chela was as a father to a son, as a whole person to a whole person, individual and unique.

   • 2002, Warrior of Light: The Life of Nicholas Roerich: Artist, Himalayan Explorer, and Visionary, page 52,

     The guru-chela relationship was a theme in many of Nicholas's paintings. In Pearl of Searching, the guru is looking thoughtfully at a pearl necklace with his chela. This symbolizes the "pearl of great price" that gives purpose to life.

   • 2007, Michael Bertiaux, The Voudon Gnostic Workbook: Expanded Edition, page 455,

     This, of course, is done by the guru as the result of a long process in which his consciousness must merge with that of the chela and wherein the chela is absorbed essentially into the guru.

Anagrams

• leach

Italian

Etymology

From Latin chele, from Ancient Greek χηλή ‎(khēlḗ).

Noun

chela f ‎(plural chele)

1. pincer (of a crustacean)

Ladin

Adjective

chela

1. feminine singular of chel

Spanish

Adjective

chela

1. (Central America, slang) feminine singular of chelo

Noun

chela f ‎(plural chelas, masculine chelo)

1. (Central America, slang) feminine equivalent of chelo; blonde, fair-skinned, blue-eyed

Noun

chela f ‎(plural chelas)

1. (Mexico, slang) beer

   Vamos a chupar unas chelas.‎ ― Let's go drink some beers.

Synonyms

• (beer): cerveza f