sinistral

[ sin-uh-struhl ]

adjective

1. of, relating to, or on the left side; left ( dextral ).
2. left-handed.
3. (of certain gastropod shells) coiling counterclockwise, as seen from the apex.

sinistral

/ ˈsɪnɪstrəl /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or located on the left side, esp the left side of the body
2. a technical term for left-handed
3. (of the shells of certain gastropod molluscs) coiling in a clockwise direction from the apex

Derived Forms

• ˈsinistrally, adverb

Other Words From

• sinis·tral·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of sinistral¹

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English word from Medieval Latin word sinistrālis. See sinister, -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of sinistral¹

C15 (in the obsolete sense: adverse, evil); C19 (in current senses): from Medieval Latin sinistrālis. See sinister

Example Sentences

At the beginning of the last decade it was not uncommon for Harte to be praised as a sinistral David Beckham.

From The Guardian

The same, mutatis mutandis, may occur in sinistral shells.

From Project Gutenberg

Shell helicoidally coiled, dextral or sinistral, the last whorl generally uncoiled.

From Project Gutenberg

This is carried outward in a sinistral spiral to the noded shoulder.

From Project Gutenberg

There are, for instance, nearly half a score of subgenera of Helix whose headquarters are Chinese, while among these, forms with sinistral shells are relatively common.

From Project Gutenberg