Emily Dickinson Lexicon

EP'I-GLOT, or EP-I-GLOT'TIS, n. [Gr. επιγλωττις; επι and γλωττα, the tongue.]

In anatomy, one of the cartilages of the larynx, whose use is to protect the glottis, when food or drink is passing into the stomach, to prevent it from entering the larynx and obstructing the breath. Quincy.