chela

See also: chel·a and chëla

English

Etymology 1

From Latin chele, from Ancient Greek χηλή (khēlḗ).

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈkilə/
• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈkiːlə/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

Noun

chela (plural chelae)

1. A pincer-like claw of a crustacean or arachnid. [from 17th c.]
   • 1646, Thomas Browne, chapter III, in Pseudodoxia Epidemica: […], London: […] T[homas] H[arper] for Edward Dod, […], →OCLC, 1st book, page 5:

     It happeneth often, I confess, that a lobster hath the chely or great claw of one side longer than the other […]

   • 1993, The Encyclopedia of Land Invertebrate Behaviour, page 232:

     The tail is curved up over the body and the pedipalps held forwards with the tip of the movable finger of the chela in contact with the sand.

   • 2004, Raymond T. Bauer, Remarkable Shrimps: Adaptations and Natural History of the Carideans, page 26:

     The two brushes on each chela snap open into semicircular fans, forming fine-mesh baskets that passively filter water.

Derived terms

• chelate
• cheli-

Translations

pincer-like claw of a crustacean or arachnid

• Bulgarian: клещи (bg) (klešti)
• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 螯 (zh) (áo)

• Finnish: saksi (fi)
• Irish: ladhar f, ordóg (ga) f
• Italian: chela (it) f
• Japanese: 螯 (ja) (はさみ, hasami)
• Polish: szczypce (pl) nvir pl
• Russian: клешня́ (ru) f (klešnjá)
• Turkish: kıskaç (tr)

Etymology 2

Borrowed from Hindi चेला (celā).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈt͡ʃeɪ.lə/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

Noun

chela (plural chelas or chele)

1. A pupil or disciple, especially in Hinduism. [from 19th c.]
   • 1901, Rudyard Kipling, Kim:

     Nay, I had a disciple with me. He that was my friend at the Temple of the Tirthankers gave me a chela for this journey.

   • 1981, William Irwin Thompson, The Time Falling Bodies Take to Light: Mythology, Sexuality and the Origins of Culture, London: Rider/Hutchinson & Co., page 184:

     In fact, Gilgamesh's instructions are still-valid directions from the guru to the chela.

   • 1987, Phirozshah Dorabji Mehta, The Heart of Religion, page 36:

     The guru had insight. He understood his chela. The relationship between a guru and his chela was as a father to a son, as a whole person to a whole person, individual and unique.

   • 2002, Warrior of Light: The Life of Nicholas Roerich: Artist, Himalayan Explorer, and Visionary, page 52:

     The guru-chela relationship was a theme in many of Nicholas's paintings. In Pearl of Searching, the guru is looking thoughtfully at a pearl necklace with his chela. This symbolizes the "pearl of great price" that gives purpose to life.

   • 2007, Michael Bertiaux, The Voudon Gnostic Workbook: Expanded Edition, page 455:

     This, of course, is done by the guru as the result of a long process in which his consciousness must merge with that of the chela and wherein the chela is absorbed essentially into the guru.

Derived terms

• chelaship

Anagrams

• Hecla, Leach, leach

Italian

Etymology

From Latin chele, from Ancient Greek χηλή (khēlḗ).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈkɛ.la/
• Rhymes: -ɛla
• Hyphenation: chè‧la

Noun

chela f (plural chele)

1. pincer (of a crustacean)

Ladin

Adjective

chela f sg

1. feminine singular of chel

Naga Pidgin

Etymology

Borrowed from Hindi चेला (celā).

Noun

chela (plural chela khan)

1. disciple

   baroh ta chela khan ― twelve disciples

Polish

Pronunciation

• (Greater Poland):
  • (Kuyavia) IPA^(key): [ˈxɛ.la]

Noun

chela f

1. (Kuyavia) alternative form of hela

Further reading

• Oskar Kolberg (1867), “chela”, in Dzieła wszystkie: Kujawy (in Polish), page 269

Spanish

Etymology

From Yucatec Maya chel.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈt͡ʃela/ [ˈt͡ʃe.la]
• Rhymes: -ela
• Syllabification: che‧la

Noun

chela f (plural chelas)

1. (Mexico, Peru, Chile, El Salvador, slang) beer

   Synonyms: cerveza, cheve

   Vamos a tomar unas chelas.

   Let's go drink some brews.

Derived terms

• michelada

Noun

chela f (plural chelas)

1. female equivalent of chelo

Adjective

chela

1. feminine singular of chelo

Further reading

• “chela”, in Diccionario de la lengua española [Dictionary of the Spanish Language] (in Spanish), online version 23.8.1, Royal Spanish Academy [Spanish: Real Academia Española], 15 December 2025

Zulu

Verb

-chela

1. to spray, to sprinkle

Inflection

tone L (infinitive ukuchela)

	positive	negative
infinitive	ukuchela	ukungacheli
imperative
	simple	+ object concord
singular	chela	-chele
plural	chelani	-cheleni
present
	positive absolute	positive relative	positive participial	negative absolute	negative relative	negative participial
1st singular	ngiyachela, ngichela	engichelayo, engichela	ngichela	angicheli	engingacheli	ngingacheli
2nd singular	uyachela, uchela	ochelayo, ochela	uchela	awucheli	ongacheli	ungacheli
1st plural	siyachela, sichela	esichelayo, esichela	sichela	asicheli	esingacheli	singacheli
2nd plural	niyachela, nichela	enichelayo, enichela	nichela	anicheli	eningacheli	ningacheli
class 1	uyachela, uchela	ochelayo, ochela	echela	akacheli	ongacheli	engacheli
class 2	bayachela, bachela	abachelayo, abachela	bechela	abacheli	abangacheli	bengacheli
class 3	uyachela, uchela	ochelayo, ochela	uchela	awucheli	ongacheli	ungacheli
class 4	iyachela, ichela	echelayo, echela	ichela	ayicheli	engacheli	ingacheli
class 5	liyachela, lichela	elichelayo, elichela	lichela	alicheli	elingacheli	lingacheli
class 6	ayachela, achela	achelayo, achela	echela	awacheli	angacheli	engacheli
class 7	siyachela, sichela	esichelayo, esichela	sichela	asicheli	esingacheli	singacheli
class 8	ziyachela, zichela	ezichelayo, ezichela	zichela	azicheli	ezingacheli	zingacheli
class 9	iyachela, ichela	echelayo, echela	ichela	ayicheli	engacheli	ingacheli
class 10	ziyachela, zichela	ezichelayo, ezichela	zichela	azicheli	ezingacheli	zingacheli
class 11	luyachela, luchela	oluchelayo, oluchela	luchela	alucheli	olungacheli	lungacheli
class 14	buyachela, buchela	obuchelayo, obuchela	buchela	abucheli	obungacheli	bungacheli
class 15	kuyachela, kuchela	okuchelayo, okuchela	kuchela	akucheli	okungacheli	kungacheli
class 17	kuyachela, kuchela	okuchelayo, okuchela	kuchela	akucheli	okungacheli	kungacheli
recent past
	positive absolute	positive relative	positive participial	negative absolute	negative relative	negative participial
1st singular	ngichelile, ngichelē	engichelile, engichelē	ngichelile, ngichelē	angichelanga	engingachelanga	ngingachelanga
2nd singular	uchelile, uchelē	ochelile, ochelē	uchelile, uchelē	awuchelanga	ongachelanga	ungachelanga
1st plural	sichelile, sichelē	esichelile, esichelē	sichelile, sichelē	asichelanga	esingachelanga	singachelanga
2nd plural	nichelile, nichelē	enichelile, enichelē	nichelile, nichelē	anichelanga	eningachelanga	ningachelanga
class 1	uchelile, uchelē	ochelile, ochelē	echelile, echelē	akachelanga	ongachelanga	engachelanga
class 2	bachelile, bachelē	abachelile, abachelē	bechelile, bechelē	abachelanga	abangachelanga	bengachelanga
class 3	uchelile, uchelē	ochelile, ochelē	uchelile, uchelē	awuchelanga	ongachelanga	ungachelanga
class 4	ichelile, ichelē	echelile, echelē	ichelile, ichelē	ayichelanga	engachelanga	ingachelanga
class 5	lichelile, lichelē	elichelile, elichelē	lichelile, lichelē	alichelanga	elingachelanga	lingachelanga
class 6	achelile, achelē	achelile, achelē	echelile, echelē	awachelanga	angachelanga	engachelanga
class 7	sichelile, sichelē	esichelile, esichelē	sichelile, sichelē	asichelanga	esingachelanga	singachelanga
class 8	zichelile, zichelē	ezichelile, ezichelē	zichelile, zichelē	azichelanga	ezingachelanga	zingachelanga
class 9	ichelile, ichelē	echelile, echelē	ichelile, ichelē	ayichelanga	engachelanga	ingachelanga
class 10	zichelile, zichelē	ezichelile, ezichelē	zichelile, zichelē	azichelanga	ezingachelanga	zingachelanga
class 11	luchelile, luchelē	oluchelile, oluchelē	luchelile, luchelē	aluchelanga	olungachelanga	lungachelanga
class 14	buchelile, buchelē	obuchelile, obuchelē	buchelile, buchelē	abuchelanga	obungachelanga	bungachelanga
class 15	kuchelile, kuchelē	okuchelile, okuchelē	kuchelile, kuchelē	akuchelanga	okungachelanga	kungachelanga
class 17	kuchelile, kuchelē	okuchelile, okuchelē	kuchelile, kuchelē	akuchelanga	okungachelanga	kungachelanga
remote past
	positive absolute	positive relative	positive participial	negative absolute	negative relative	negative participial
1st singular	ngāchela	engāchela	ngāchela	angichelanga	engingachelanga	ngingachelanga
2nd singular	wāchela	owāchela	wāchela	awuchelanga	ongachelanga	ungachelanga
1st plural	sāchela	esāchela	sāchela	asichelanga	esingachelanga	singachelanga
2nd plural	nāchela	enāchela	nāchela	anichelanga	eningachelanga	ningachelanga
class 1	wāchela	owāchela	āchela	akachelanga	ongachelanga	engachelanga
class 2	bāchela	abāchela	bāchela	abachelanga	abangachelanga	bengachelanga
class 3	wāchela	owāchela	wāchela	awuchelanga	ongachelanga	ungachelanga
class 4	yāchela	eyāchela	yāchela	ayichelanga	engachelanga	ingachelanga
class 5	lāchela	elāchela	lāchela	alichelanga	elingachelanga	lingachelanga
class 6	āchela	āchela	āchela	awachelanga	angachelanga	engachelanga
class 7	sāchela	esāchela	sāchela	asichelanga	esingachelanga	singachelanga
class 8	zāchela	ezāchela	zāchela	azichelanga	ezingachelanga	zingachelanga
class 9	yāchela	eyāchela	yāchela	ayichelanga	engachelanga	ingachelanga
class 10	zāchela	ezāchela	zāchela	azichelanga	ezingachelanga	zingachelanga
class 11	lwāchela	olwāchela	lwāchela	aluchelanga	olungachelanga	lungachelanga
class 14	bāchela	obāchela	bāchela	abuchelanga	obungachelanga	bungachelanga
class 15	kwāchela	okwāchela	kwāchela	akuchelanga	okungachelanga	kungachelanga
class 17	kwāchela	okwāchela	kwāchela	akuchelanga	okungachelanga	kungachelanga
potential
	positive absolute	positive relative	positive participial	negative absolute	negative relative	negative participial
1st singular	ngingachela	—	ngingachela	ngingechele	—	ngingechele
2nd singular	ungachela	—	ungachela	ungechele	—	ungechele
1st plural	singachela	—	singachela	singechele	—	singechele
2nd plural	ningachela	—	ningachela	ningechele	—	ningechele
class 1	angachela	—	engachela	angechele	—	engechele
class 2	bangachela	—	bengachela	bangechele	—	bengechele
class 3	ungachela	—	ungachela	ungechele	—	ungechele
class 4	ingachela	—	ingachela	ingechele	—	ingechele
class 5	lingachela	—	lingachela	lingechele	—	lingechele
class 6	angachela	—	engachela	angechele	—	engechele
class 7	singachela	—	singachela	singechele	—	singechele
class 8	zingachela	—	zingachela	zingechele	—	zingechele
class 9	ingachela	—	ingachela	ingechele	—	ingechele
class 10	zingachela	—	zingachela	zingechele	—	zingechele
class 11	lungachela	—	lungachela	lungechele	—	lungechele
class 14	bungachela	—	bungachela	bungechele	—	bungechele
class 15	kungachela	—	kungachela	kungechele	—	kungechele
class 17	kungachela	—	kungachela	kungechele	—	kungechele
immediate future
	positive absolute	positive relative	positive participial	negative absolute	negative relative	negative participial
1st singular	ngizochela	engizochela	ngizochela	angizuchela	engingezuchela	ngingezuchela
2nd singular	uzochela	ozochela	uzochela	awuzuchela	ongezuchela	ungezuchela
1st plural	sizochela	esizochela	sizochela	asizuchela	esingezuchela	singezuchela
2nd plural	nizochela	enizochela	nizochela	anizuchela	eningezuchela	ningezuchela
class 1	uzochela	ozochela	ezochela	akazuchela	ongezuchela	engezuchela
class 2	bazochela	abazochela	bezochela	abazuchela	abangezuchela	bengezuchela
class 3	uzochela	ozochela	uzochela	awuzuchela	ongezuchela	ungezuchela
class 4	izochela	ezochela	izochela	ayizuchela	engezuchela	ingezuchela
class 5	lizochela	elizochela	lizochela	alizuchela	elingezuchela	lingezuchela
class 6	azochela	azochela	ezochela	awazuchela	angezuchela	engezuchela
class 7	sizochela	esizochela	sizochela	asizuchela	esingezuchela	singezuchela
class 8	zizochela	ezizochela	zizochela	azizuchela	ezingezuchela	zingezuchela
class 9	izochela	ezochela	izochela	ayizuchela	engezuchela	ingezuchela
class 10	zizochela	ezizochela	zizochela	azizuchela	ezingezuchela	zingezuchela
class 11	luzochela	oluzochela	luzochela	aluzuchela	olungezuchela	lungezuchela
class 14	buzochela	obuzochela	buzochela	abuzuchela	obungezuchela	bungezuchela
class 15	kuzochela	okuzochela	kuzochela	akuzuchela	okungezuchela	kungezuchela
class 17	kuzochela	okuzochela	kuzochela	akuzuchela	okungezuchela	kungezuchela
remote future
	positive absolute	positive relative	positive participial	negative absolute	negative relative	negative participial
1st singular	ngiyochela	engiyochela	ngiyochela	angiyuchela	engingeyuchela	ngingeyuchela
2nd singular	uyochela	oyochela	uyochela	awuyuchela	ongeyuchela	ungeyuchela
1st plural	siyochela	esiyochela	siyochela	asiyuchela	esingeyuchela	singeyuchela
2nd plural	niyochela	eniyochela	niyochela	aniyuchela	eningeyuchela	ningeyuchela
class 1	uyochela	oyochela	eyochela	akayuchela	ongeyuchela	engeyuchela
class 2	bayochela	abayochela	beyochela	abayuchela	abangeyuchela	bengeyuchela
class 3	uyochela	oyochela	uyochela	awuyuchela	ongeyuchela	ungeyuchela
class 4	iyochela	eyochela	iyochela	ayiyuchela	engeyuchela	ingeyuchela
class 5	liyochela	eliyochela	liyochela	aliyuchela	elingeyuchela	lingeyuchela
class 6	ayochela	ayochela	eyochela	awayuchela	angeyuchela	engeyuchela
class 7	siyochela	esiyochela	siyochela	asiyuchela	esingeyuchela	singeyuchela
class 8	ziyochela	eziyochela	ziyochela	aziyuchela	ezingeyuchela	zingeyuchela
class 9	iyochela	eyochela	iyochela	ayiyuchela	engeyuchela	ingeyuchela
class 10	ziyochela	eziyochela	ziyochela	aziyuchela	ezingeyuchela	zingeyuchela
class 11	luyochela	oluyochela	luyochela	aluyuchela	olungeyuchela	lungeyuchela
class 14	buyochela	obuyochela	buyochela	abuyuchela	obungeyuchela	bungeyuchela
class 15	kuyochela	okuyochela	kuyochela	akuyuchela	okungeyuchela	kungeyuchela
class 17	kuyochela	okuyochela	kuyochela	akuyuchela	okungeyuchela	kungeyuchela
present subjunctive
	positive	negative
1st singular	ngichele	ngingacheli
2nd singular	uchele	ungacheli
1st plural	sichele	singacheli
2nd plural	nichele	ningacheli
class 1	achele	angacheli
class 2	bachele	bangacheli
class 3	uchele	ungacheli
class 4	ichele	ingacheli
class 5	lichele	lingacheli
class 6	achele	angacheli
class 7	sichele	singacheli
class 8	zichele	zingacheli
class 9	ichele	ingacheli
class 10	zichele	zingacheli
class 11	luchele	lungacheli
class 14	buchele	bungacheli
class 15	kuchele	kungacheli
class 17	kuchele	kungacheli
past subjunctive
	positive	negative
1st singular	ngachela	ngangachela, angachela, angangachela
2nd singular	wachela	wangachela, awachela, awangachela
1st plural	sachela	sangachela, asachela, asangachela
2nd plural	nachela	nangachela, anachela, anangachela
class 1	wachela	wangachela, akachela, akangachela
class 2	bachela	bangachela, abachela, abangachela
class 3	wachela	wangachela, awachela, awangachela
class 4	yachela	yangachela, ayachela, ayangachela
class 5	lachela	langachela, alachela, alangachela
class 6	achela	angachela, awachela, awangachela
class 7	sachela	sangachela, asachela, asangachela
class 8	zachela	zangachela, azachela, azangachela
class 9	yachela	yangachela, ayachela, ayangachela
class 10	zachela	zangachela, azachela, azangachela
class 11	lwachela	lwangachela, alwachela, alwangachela
class 14	bachela	bangachela, abachela, abangachela
class 15	kwachela	kwangachela, akwachela, akwangachela
class 17	kwachela	kwangachela, akwachela, akwangachela

References

• C. M. Doke; B. W. Vilakazi (1972), “chela”, in Zulu-English Dictionary, →ISBN: “chela (6.3)”