[ad. L. auricula external ear, ear-lap, dim. of auris ear: cf. F. auricule.]
1. The external ear of animals. Formerly sometimes restricted to the lower lobe or ‘lap’ of the human ear.
1653. Bulwer, Anthropomet., viii. 144. A certaine Nation, whose Auricles are so great, that they hang down to their shoulders … Where men had not onely hanging Eares, but broad and large Auricles.
1748. Hartley, Observ. Man, I. ii. § 5 ¶ 64. The Auricle and Meatus Auditorius are cartilaginous.
1874. Roosa, Dis. Ear, 53. The auricle … has as its functions the reception, reflection, and condensation of the waves of sound.
b. transf. An ‘ear’ or ear-hole.
1859. Hawthorne, Fr. & It. Jrnls., II. 300. The penitent … poured his sins through a perforated auricle into this unseen receptacle.
2. A process shaped liked the lower lobe or ‘lap’ of the human ear; a lobe; esp. in Bot. and Conch. (Cf. AURICULATE.)
1665. Phil. Trans., I. 87. A stone … having three Auricles or crisped Angles.
1851. Richardson, Geol., viii. 242. The auricles are the processes on each side of the umbones.
1861. Mrs. Lankester, Wild Fl., 74. The upper leaves … embracing the stem by pointed auricles.
3. Name of the two upper cavities of the heart, which, in mammals, birds, and reptiles, receive blood from the veins and lungs respectively. (Fishes have only one auricle.)
1664. Power, Exp. Philos., I. 40. In this Cartilaginous Pericardium [of the Lamprey] … is likewise the Auricle co-included.
1748. Hartley, Observ. Man, I. ii. § 7 ¶ 74. The contraction of the Auricle of the Heart.
1847. Youatt, Horse, xi. 239. Called auricles, from their supposed resemblance to the ear of a dog.
4. A kind of ear-trumpet for the deaf.
1864. Webster cites Mansfield.
