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papillary

[pap-uh-ler-ee, puh-pil-uh-ree]
adjective
  1. of, relating to, or of the nature of a papilla or papillae.
  2. having or covered with papillae.
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Origin of papillary

1660–70; < Latin papill(a) nipple + -ary
Related formsin·ter·pap·il·lar·y, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for papillary

Historical Examples

  • Alix in 18678 wrote on the papillary lines of hand and foot in Zoologie, vols.

    Dactylography

    Henry Faulds

  • Eruption fine and papillary on face; red and scarcely raised on arms.

  • This condition is found usually in the subepidermal layers, especially in the papillary stratum.

    Scurvy Past and Present

    Alfred Fabian Hess

  • The inner surface is applied directly to the papillary layer of the true skin, and follows closely its inequalities.

    A Practical Physiology

    Albert F. Blaisdell

  • Eczema verrucosum presents similar conditions, but, in addition, displays a tendency to papillary or wart-like hypertrophy.

    Essentials of Diseases of the Skin

    Henry Weightman Stelwagon

Word Origin and History for papillary

adj.

1660s, from Latin papilla (see papilla) + -ary.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper