Tar"sus (?), n.; pl. Tarsi (#). [NL., fr. Gr. the flat of the foot, the edge of the eyelid. Cf. 2d Tarse.]
1. Anat. (a)
The ankle; the bones or cartilages of the part of the foot between the metatarsus and the leg, consisting in man of seven short bones.
(b)
A plate of dense connective tissue or cartilage in the eyelid of man and many animals; -- called also tarsal cartilage, and tarsal plate.
2. Zool.
The foot of an insect or a crustacean. It usually consists of form two to five joints.
© Webster 1913.