Plural of antenna; sensory appendages found on the heads of insects and other arthropods, used for detecting chemicals, sounds, and other stimuli. Also refers to multiple radio or television signal receivers.
From Latin 'antenna' originally meaning 'sail yard' (the horizontal pole on a ship's mast). The term was applied to insect appendages in the 17th century due to their resemblance to ship rigging, then extended to radio equipment in the early 20th century.
It's fascinating that we use the same word for insect feelers and radio receivers - both are essentially devices for detecting invisible signals in the environment. A butterfly's antennae can detect pheromones from miles away, making them arguably more sophisticated than our best electronic sensors.
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