1  definition  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  . 

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
or search   thesauri dictionary search words