Meaning
Any small structure shaped like a cup, such as at the base of an acorn, or the sucker on the feet of some flies.
Etymology
Origin: Old English
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *kewp-der. Latin cūpa ▲ Frankish *koppinflu.? Late Latin cuppabor.? Proto-Indo-European *gew-der. Proto-Germanic *kuppaz? Old English cuppe ▲ Proto-Germanic *kuppaz Old English copp Middle English cuppe, coppe English cup Proto-Indo-European *-tḗr Proto-Indo-European *-trom Proto-Indo-European *-tlom, *-dʰlom Latin -ulader. Proto-Indo-European *-lós Proto-Indo-European *-elós Proto-Italic *-elos Latin -ulusder. ▲ Latin -ulader. ▲ Proto-Indo-European *-tlom Proto-Italic *-klom? ▲ Proto-Italic *-elos? Latin -ulumder. French -uleder. English -ule English cupule From cup + -ule.; former is derived from Old English copp of Germanic origin thus not related (false cognate) to cupula of Latin origin, but perhaps influenced it
NYT Puzzle Appearances
No published puzzle dates on file for this word yet. It is part of the official NYT Spelling Bee word list for 2019, 2022, 2025.