amphistylic
|am-phi-sty-lic|
C2
/ˌæmfɪˈstaɪlɪk/
jaw suspension type
Etymology
Etymology Information
'amphistylic' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'amphi-' meaning 'both' and 'stylos' meaning 'pillar'.
Historical Evolution
'amphi-' and 'stylos' combined in Greek to form 'amphistylic', which was adopted into English to describe a specific jaw structure.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it referred to a structural feature in ancient fish, and this meaning has remained consistent in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
having a type of jaw suspension in which the upper jaw is attached to the skull by ligaments and the lower jaw is supported by the hyomandibular.
The ancient fish exhibited an amphistylic jaw structure.
Last updated: 2025/07/22 19:51