caducous Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. adjective shed at an early stage of development
    shed.
    • most amphibians have caducous gills
    • the caducous calyx of a poppy

WordNet

Ca*du"cous
Etymology
L. caducus falling, inclined to fall, fr. cadere to fall. See Cadence.
Definitions
  1. (Bot. & Zoöl.) Dropping off or disappearing early, as the calyx of a poppy, or the gills of a tadpole.

Webster 1913