heterodactylous
[ het-uh-roh-dak-tuh-luhs ]
adjectiveOrnithology.
having the first and fourth toes directed backward, and the second and third forward, as in trogons.
Origin of heterodactylous
1First recorded in 1850–55; hetero- + -dactylous
- Also het·er·o·dac·tyl [het-uh-roh-dak-til] /ˌhɛt ə roʊˈdæk tɪl/ .
Words Nearby heterodactylous
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Browse