- Pectorals
- Pectoral Pec"to*ral (p[e^]k"t[-o]*ral), a. [L. pectoralis, fr.
pectus, -oris the breast; cf. F. pectoral.]
1. Of or pertaining to the breast, or chest; as, the pectoral
muscles.
[1913 Webster]
2. Relating to, or good for, diseases of the chest or lungs; as, a pectoral remedy. [1913 Webster]
3. (Zo["o]l.) Having the breast conspicuously colored; as, the pectoral sandpiper. [1913 Webster]
{Pectoral arch}, or {Pectoral girdle} (Anat.), the two or more bony or cartilaginous pieces of the vertebrate skeleton to which the fore limbs are articulated; the shoulder girdle. In man it consists of two bones, the scapula and clavicle, on each side.
{Pectoral cross} (Eccl.), a cross worn on the breast by bishops and abbots, and sometimes also by canons.
{Pectoral fins}, or {Pectorals} (Zo["o]l.), fins situated on the sides, behind the gills. See Illust. under {Fin}.
{Pectoral rail}. (Zo["o]l.) See {Land rail} (b) under {Land}.
{Pectoral sandpiper} (Zo["o]l.), the jacksnipe (b) . [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.