phocomelia

or pho·ko·me·li·a

[foh-koh-mee-lee-uh, -meel-yuh]

noun Pathology.

a usually congenital deformity of the extremities in which the limbs are abnormally short.

Sometimes pho·com·e·ly [foh-kom-uh-lee] /foʊˈkɒm ə li/.

Origin of phocomelia

1890–95; < New Latin, equivalent to phōco-, combining form representing Greek phṓkē seal + -melia -melia

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for phocomelia

Historical Examples of phocomelia

Phocomelia with brain deformity has been found associated with them.
Degeneracy
Eugene S. Talbot

British Dictionary definitions for phocomelia

phocomelia

phocomely (fəʊˈkɒməlɪ)

noun

a congenital deformity resulting from prenatal interference with the development of the fetal limbs, characterized esp by short stubby hands or feet attached close to the body

Derived Formsphocomelic, adjective

Word Origin for phocomelia

C19: via New Latin from Greek phōkē a seal + melos a limb

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

phocomelia in Medicine

phocomelia

[fō′kō-mē′lē-ə, -mēl′yə]

A birth defect in which the upper portion of a limb is absent or poorly developed, so that the hand or foot attaches to the body by a short, flipperlike stump.

Related formspho′co•me′lic (-mē′lĭk) adj.