costal

[kos-tl, kaws-tl]

adjective

1. Anatomy.,  pertaining to the ribs or the upper sides of the body.

   costal nerves.

2. Botany, Zoology.,  pertaining to, involving, or situated near a costa.

Other Word Forms

• costally adverb
• postcostal adjective
• precostal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of costal¹

1625–35; < Medieval Latin costālis of the ribs, equivalent to Latin cost ( a ) rib, side + -ālis -al ¹

Example Sentences

Tests later revealed he broke the costal cartilage of his sixth rib.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The couple's costal walk was detailed in Ms Winn's best-selling book, The Salt Path.

Read more on BBC

“I was looking for the heathens, but there are none,” said Wayne Harris, 75, who had traveled from costal Rockport, Texas.

Read more on New York Times

Hundreds of thousands of people were facing power outages on Tuesday that could take days to restore after a sweeping costal storm battered the Northeast with whipping winds and soaking downpours.

Read more on New York Times

Based on projections, the elderly boom will be in rural, largely costal, areas and these places are often poor cousins when it comes to provision.

Read more on BBC