papillary

[pap-uh-ler-ee, puh-pil-uh-ree]

adjective

of, relating to, or of the nature of a papilla or papillae.
having or covered with papillae.

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 of papillary

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.
North American Medical and Surgical Journal, Vol. 2, No. 3, July, 1826
Various
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.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper