heterodactylous
|het-er-o-dac-ty-lous|
/ˌhɛtərəˈdæktɪləs/
different-toed arrangement
Etymology
'heterodactylous' originates from Modern Latin/New Latin, specifically the word 'heterodactylus', where 'hetero-' meant 'different' and 'dactyl' (from Greek 'daktulos') meant 'finger, toe'.
'heterodactylous' changed from Greek elements 'hetero-' + 'daktulos' into Latinized New Latin 'heterodactylus' and was later adopted into English as 'heterodactylous' (used in ornithological descriptions).
Initially it meant 'having different toes' in a general etymological sense, and it evolved into the specific technical meaning 'having the particular toe arrangement (1 and 2 backward, 3 and 4 forward)' used in ornithology.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
having a heterodactyl foot arrangement — specifically with the first and second toes directed backward and the third and fourth toes directed forward (characteristic of trogons).
The trogon is heterodactylous, its first and second toes pointing backward while the third and fourth point forward.
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/12/06 11:00