crissum

[ kris-uhm ]

noun

, Ornithology.

, plural cris·sa [kris, -, uh].

1. the region surrounding the cloacal opening beneath the tail of a bird.
2. the feathers of this region collectively.

crissum

/ ˈkrɪsəm /

noun

1. the area or feathers surrounding the cloaca of a bird

Derived Forms

• ˈcrissal, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of crissum¹

1870–75; < New Latin, equivalent to Latin criss ( āre ) to move the haunches + -um noun suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of crissum¹

C19: from New Latin, from Latin crissāre to move the haunches

Example Sentences

Female olive-brown, paler below, chin pale ochraceous; middle of belly and crissum white; bill brown, feet yellowish.

From Project Gutenberg

Female: above grey, densely striated with black; beneath dirty white, with dense black striations, belly and crissum fulvous.

From Project Gutenberg

Below, bright lemon-yellow, the crissum white or merely tinged with yellow.

From Project Gutenberg

Below grayish buff rapidly fading when older to a greenish gray; abdomen and crissum pale straw-yellow.

From Project Gutenberg

Below, olive-yellow darker on the flanks, the abdomen and crissum white.

From Project Gutenberg