Pectorals

1 definition found

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

  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. (Zool.) 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} (Zool.), fins situated on the
        sides, behind the gills. See Illust. under {Fin}.
  
     {Pectoral rail}. (Zool.) See {Land rail}
        (b) under {Land}.
  
     {Pectoral sandpiper} (Zool.), the jacksnipe
        (b) .
            [1913 Webster]