fissirostral

[ fis-uh-ros-truhl ]

adjective

, Ornithology.

1. having a broad, deeply cleft beak or bill, as the swallows and goatsuckers.
2. (of the bill) deeply cleft.

fissirostral

/ ˌfɪsɪˈrɒstrəl /

adjective

1. (of the beaks of some birds) broad and deeply cleft
2. having such a beak, as swifts and swallows

Word History and Origins

Origin of fissirostral¹

fissi- + rostral

Example Sentences

Fissirostral, fis-i-ros′tral, adj. having a deeply cleft or gaping beak, as swallows, &c.

From Project Gutenberg

In such places I found a good many birds, among which were the fine cream-coloured pigeon, Carpophaga luctuosa, and the rare blue-headed roller, Coracias temmincki, which has a most discordant voice, and generally goes in pairs, flying from tree to tree, and exhibiting while at rest that all-in-a-heap appearance and jerking motion of the head and tail which are so characteristic of the great Fissirostral group to which it belongs.

From Project Gutenberg