equal-toothed
|e-qual-toothed|
/ˈiːkwəlˌtuːθt/
teeth of equal size
Etymology
'equal-toothed' originates from English, specifically the words 'equal' and 'tooth', where 'equal' (from Latin 'aequalis') meant 'level; same' and 'tooth' (Old English 'tōþ') meant 'tooth'.
'equal' came into English via Latin 'aequalis' (through Old French forms) and developed into Middle English 'equel/egal', while 'toothed' is formed from Old English 'tōþ' with the past-participial/adjectival suffix '-ed'; the compound 'equal-toothed' was formed in modern English by joining these elements to describe uniform teeth or serrations.
Initially, the components literally conveyed 'having teeth that are the same', and over time the compound has remained essentially literal and is used mainly in technical descriptions (for example, in botany) to mean 'having uniform teeth'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
having teeth (or toothlike projections) that are of equal size or shape; having uniform teeth or serrations, especially used in botanical descriptions of leaf margins or similar features.
The leaves of the specimen were equal-toothed along the margins, giving a regular, even appearance.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/12/06 17:25