%osculant%

a. [ L. osculans, -antis, p. pr. of osculari to kiss. See Osculate. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Kissing; hence, meeting; clinging. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Zool.) Adhering closely; embracing; -- applied to certain creeping animals, as caterpillars. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Biol.) Intermediate in character, or on the border, between two genera, groups, families, etc., of animals or plants, and partaking somewhat of the characters of each, thus forming a connecting link; interosculant; as, the genera by which two families approximate are called osculant genera. [ 1913 Webster ]