ctenoid

[ tee-noid, ten-oid ]

adjective

, Zoology.

1. comblike or pectinate; rough-edged.
2. having rough-edged scales.

ctenoid

/ ˈtiːnɔɪd; ˈtɛn- /

adjective

1. biology toothed like a comb, as the scales of perches

Word History and Origins

Origin of ctenoid¹

First recorded in 1830–40, ctenoid is from the Greek word ktenoeidḗs like a comb. See cteno-, -oid

Word History and Origins

Origin of ctenoid¹

C19: from Greek ktenoeidēs, from kteis comb + -oeidēs -oid

Example Sentences

Ctenoid, tē′noid, adj. comb-shaped, applied by Agassiz to the scales and fins of certain fishes, as the perch, &c.—adj. and n.

From Project Gutenberg

So long as the strongly-armed ganoidal order prevailed in nature, the sharks were furnished with massive crushing teeth; but when the ganoids waned in creation, and the soft-scaled cycloid and ctenoid orders took and amply filled the place which they had left vacant, the well known modern form of sharks' teeth was introduced,—a form much rather suited for cutting soft bodies than for crushing hard ones.

From Project Gutenberg

I tried to follow Agassiz's scheme of division into the order of ctenoids and ganoids, with the result that I found one of my species of side-swimmers had cycloid scales on one side and ctenoid on the other.

From Project Gutenberg