Appendages Winglike is a term used to describe the physical features of certain animals. ALAE, with four letters, is a Latin word meaning 'WINGS' and is often used to refer to the WINGS of birds. FINLESS, with seven letters, is a term used to describe aquatic animals that do not have fins. Together, these two words describe appendages that are winglike in shape, such as the WINGS of birds or the flippers of dolphins.