anisodactylous

[ an-ahy-suh-dak-tl-uh s, an-ahy- ]

/ ænˌaɪ səˈdæk tl əs, ˌæn aɪ- /

adjective

Zoology. having the toes unlike, or unequal in number.

Ornithology. having three toes directed forward and one backward.

Nearby words

anisocercal, anisochromatic, anisocoria, anisocytosis, anisodactyl, anisodactylous, anisodactyly, anisogamete, anisogamous, anisogamy, anisognathous

Also an·i·so·dac·tyl.

Origin of anisodactylous

aniso- + -dactylous

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for anisodactyl

anisodactyl

/ (ænˌaɪsəʊˈdæktɪl, ˌænaɪ-) /

adjective Also: anisodactylous

(of the feet of passerine birds) having the first toe directed backwards and the other three toes directed forwards

noun

a bird having this type of feet

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012