外がい適てき応おう

noun

exaptation

A biological term for a trait that evolved for one function but later became co-opted for another. Rare outside academic contexts.

• 鳥とりの羽う毛もうはもともと体たい温おん調ちょう節せつのために進しん化かしたが、後のちに飛ひ行こうに外がい適てき応おうしたと考かんがえられている。

  Bird feathers are thought to have originally evolved for thermoregulation and later became exapted for flight.