Desmognathous

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Desmognathous \Des*mog"na*thous\, a. [Gr. desmo`s bond + gna`qos
     jaw.] (Zool.)
     Having the maxillo-palatine bones united; -- applied to a
     group of carinate birds ({Desmognath[ae]}), including various
     wading and swimming birds, as the ducks and herons, and also
     raptorial and other kinds.


     [1913 Webster]