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metagnathous

[muh-tag-nuh-thuh s]
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adjective
  1. Ornithology. having the tips of the mandibles crossed, as the crossbills.
  2. Entomology. having biting mouthparts in the larval stage and sucking mouthparts in the adult stage.
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Origin of metagnathous

First recorded in 1870–75; meta- + -gnathous
Related formsme·tag·na·thism, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
British Dictionary definitions for metagnathous

metagnathous

adjective
  1. (of the beaks of birds such as the crossbill) having crossed tips
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Derived Formsmetagnathism, noun

Word Origin

C19: from meta- + -gnathous
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