browse words by letter
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
j
k
l
m
n
o
p
q
r
s
t
u
v
w
x
y
z
pectoral |
4 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Pectoral \Pec"to*ral\, a. [L. pectoralis, fr pectus, -oris the breast; cf F. pectoral.] 1. Of or pertaining to the breast, or chest; as the pectoral muscles. 2. Relating to or good for diseases of the chest or lungs; as a pectoral remedy. 3. (Zo["o]l.) Having the breast conspicuously colored; as the pectoral sandpiper. {Pectoral arch}, or {Pectoral girdle} (Anat.), the two or more bony or cartilaginous pieces of the vertebrate skeleton to which the fore limbs are articulated; the shoulder girdle. In man it consists of two bones, the scapula and clavicle, on each side {Pectorial cross} (Eccl.), a cross worn on the breast by bishops and abbots, and sometimes also by canons. {Pectorial} fins, or {Pectorials} (Zo["o]l.), fins situated on the sides, behind the gills. See Illust. under {Fin}. {Pectorial rail}. (Zo["o]l.) See {Land rail} b under {Land}. {Pectorial sandpiper} (Zo["o]l.), the jacksnipe b . From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Pectoral \Pec"to*ral\, n. [L. pectorale a breastplate, neut. of pectorials.] 1. A covering or protecting for the breast. 2. (Eccl.) a A breastplate, esp. that worn by the Jewish high person. b A clasp or a cross worn on the breast. 3. A medicine for diseases of the chest organs, especially the lungs. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Girdle \Gir"dle\, n. [OE. gurdel, girdel, AS gyrdel fr gyrdan akin to D. gordel, G. g["u]rtel, Icel. gyr?ill. See {Gird}, v. t., to encircle, and cf {Girth}, n.] 1. That which girds, encircles, or incloses; a circumference; a belt; esp., a belt, sash, or article of dress encircling the body usually at the waist; a cestus. Within the girdle of these walls. --Shak. Their breasts girded with golden girdles. --Rev. xv 6. 2. The zodiac; also the equator. [Poetic] --Bacon. From the world's girdle to the frozen pole. --Cowper. That gems the starry girdle of the year. --Campbell. 3. (Jewelry) The line ofgreatest circumference of a brilliant-cut diamond, at which it is grasped by the setting. See Illust. of {Brilliant}. --Knight. 4. (Mining) A thin bed or stratum of stone. --Raymond. 5. (Zo["o]l.) The clitellus of an earthworm. {Girdle bone} (Anat.), the sphenethmoid. See under {Sphenethmoid}. {Girdle wheel}, a spinning wheel. {Sea girdle} (Zo["o]l.), a ctenophore. See {Venus's girdle}, under {Venus}. {Shoulder}, {Pectoral}, & {Pelvic}, {girdle}. (Anat.) See under {Pectoral}, and {Pelvic}. {To have under the girdle}, to have bound to one that is in subjection. From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: pectoral adj : of or relating to the chest or thorax; "pectoral organ" [syn: {thoracic}] n 1: either of two large muscles of the chest [syn: {pectoral muscle}, {pectoralis}, {musculus pectoralis}, {pecs}] 2: an adornment worn on the chest or breast [syn: {pectoral medallion}]
more about pectoral