perissodactyl

American  

[puh-ris-oh-dak-til] / pəˌrɪs oʊˈdæk tɪl /

Also perissodactyle

adjective

1. having an uneven number of toes or digits on each foot.

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noun

1. any mammal of the order Perissodactyla, comprising the odd-toed hoofed quadrupeds and including the tapirs, rhinoceroses, and horses.

perissodactyl British  

/ pəˌrɪsəʊˈdæktɪl, pəˌrɪsəʊˈdæktaɪl /

noun

1. any placental mammal of the order Perissodactyla, having hooves with an odd number of toes: includes horses, tapirs, and rhinoceroses

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adjective

1. of, relating to, or belonging to the Perissodactyla

perissodactyl Scientific  

/ pə-rĭs′ō-dăk′təl /

1. Any of various hoofed mammals of the order Perissodactyla, having one or three hoofed toes on each hindfoot. During the Tertiary Period, perissodactyls were the dominant herbivorous fauna. Horses, tapirs, and rhinoceroses are perissodactyls.

2. Also called odd-toed ungulate

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Other Word Forms

• perissodactylous adjective

Etymology

Origin of perissodactyl

1840–50; < New Latin perissodactylus < Greek perissó ( s ) uneven, literally, beyond the norm, strange (derivative of périx (preposition and adv.) round about, akin to perí; peri- ) + -daktylos -dactylous

Example Sentences

Nearer and nearer, 50 yards, 40 yards, 30 yards�crack! a bullet sped from York's rifle ... a perissodactyl monster lay dead!

From Time Magazine Archive

In the further reduction of the perissodactyl foot, the fifth digit, being shorter than the remaining three, next left the ground, and gradually disappeared.

From Darwin, and After Darwin (Vol. 1 and 3, of 3) An Exposition of the Darwinian Theory and a Discussion of Post-Darwinian Questions by Romanes, George John

Bones of the foot of four different forms of the perissodactyl type 186 82.

From Darwin, and After Darwin (Vol. 1 and 3, of 3) An Exposition of the Darwinian Theory and a Discussion of Post-Darwinian Questions by Romanes, George John

One leading to the existing perissodactyl foot, and the other, apparently later, resulting in the artiodactyl type.

From Darwin, and After Darwin (Vol. 1 and 3, of 3) An Exposition of the Darwinian Theory and a Discussion of Post-Darwinian Questions by Romanes, George John

The fifth digit, for the same reasons as in the perissodactyl foot, first left the ground and became smaller.

From Darwin, and After Darwin (Vol. 1 and 3, of 3) An Exposition of the Darwinian Theory and a Discussion of Post-Darwinian Questions by Romanes, George John