Paired fins

Paired fins
Fin Fin, n.[OE. finne, fin, AS. finn; akin to D. vin, G. & Dan. finne, Sw. fena, L. pinna, penna, a wing, feather. Cf. {pen} a feather.] 1. (Zo["o]l.) An organ of a fish, consisting of a membrane supported by rays, or little bony or cartilaginous ossicles, and serving to balance and propel it in the water. [1913 Webster]

Note: Fishes move through the water chiefly by means of the caudal fin or tail, the principal office of the other fins being to balance or direct the body, though they are also, to a certain extent, employed in producing motion. [1913 Webster]

2. (Zo["o]l.) A membranous, finlike, swimming organ, as in pteropod and heteropod mollusks. [1913 Webster]

3. A finlike organ or attachment; a part of an object or product which protrudes like a fin, as: (a) The hand. [Slang] (b) (Com.) A blade of whalebone. [Eng.] --McElrath. (c) (Mech.) A mark or ridge left on a casting at the junction of the parts of a mold. (d) (Mech.) The thin sheet of metal squeezed out between the collars of the rolls in the process of rolling. --Raymond. (e) (Mech.) A feather; a spline. [1913 Webster]

4. A finlike appendage, as to submarine boats. [1913 Webster]

5. (A["e]ronautics) A fixed stabilizing surface, usually vertical, similar in purpose to a bilge keel on a ship. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

{Apidose fin}. (Zo["o]l.) See under {Adipose}, a.

{Fin ray} (Anat.), one of the hornlike, cartilaginous, or bony, dermal rods which form the skeleton of the fins of fishes.

{Fin whale} (Zo["o]l.), a finback.

{Paired fins} (Zo["o]l.), the pectoral and ventral fins, corresponding to the fore and hind legs of the higher animals.

{Unpaired fins}, or {Median fins} (Zo["o]l.), the dorsal, caudal, and anal fins. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Paired fins — Pair Pair, v. t. 1. To unite in couples; to form a pair of; to bring together, as things which belong together, or which complement, or are adapted to one another. [1913 Webster] Glossy jet is paired with shining white. Pope. [1913 Webster] 2. To …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • paired fin — the pectoral and the pelvic fins (as opposed to the vertical fins) …   Dictionary of ichthyology

  • fins — a usually stiff, sharp, dermal rod which supports and or arms the fin; spinous ray. Lacks segments and is not laterally paired as are rays. Spine counts are given in Roman numerals, e.g. XI XIV. See also ray, spine …   Dictionary of ichthyology

  • Median fins — Fin Fin, n.[OE. finne, fin, AS. finn; akin to D. vin, G. & Dan. finne, Sw. fena, L. pinna, penna, a wing, feather. Cf. {pen} a feather.] 1. (Zo[ o]l.) An organ of a fish, consisting of a membrane supported by rays, or little bony or cartilaginous …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Unpaired fins — Fin Fin, n.[OE. finne, fin, AS. finn; akin to D. vin, G. & Dan. finne, Sw. fena, L. pinna, penna, a wing, feather. Cf. {pen} a feather.] 1. (Zo[ o]l.) An organ of a fish, consisting of a membrane supported by rays, or little bony or cartilaginous …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • ventral fins — the paired fins other than the pectoral fins (placed right behind the gill slit); may be located behind, below or in front of the pectoral fins. Sometimes lacking. Also called pelvic fins …   Dictionary of ichthyology

  • vertical fins — the dorsal, caudal and anal fins (as opposed to the paired fins). Also called median fins …   Dictionary of ichthyology

  • pectoral fins — plural noun The anterior paired fins of fishes • • • Main Entry: ↑pectoral …   Useful english dictionary

  • fish — fishless, adj. /fish/, n., pl. (esp. collectively) fish, (esp. referring to two or more kinds or species) fishes, v. n. 1. any of various cold blooded, aquatic vertebrates, having gills, commonly fins, and typically an elongated body covered with …   Universalium

  • Fish — /fish/, n. Hamilton, 1808 93, U.S. statesman: secretary of state 1869 77. * * * I Any of more than 24,000 species of cold blooded vertebrates found worldwide in fresh and salt water. Living species range from the primitive lampreys and hagfishes… …   Universalium

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