digitigrade

[ dij-i-ti-greyd ]

adjective

1. walking on the toes, as most quadruped mammals.

noun

1. a digitigrade animal.

digitigrade

/ ˈdɪdʒɪtɪˌɡreɪd /

adjective

1. (of dogs, cats, horses, etc) walking so that only the toes touch the ground

noun

1. a digitigrade animal

Word History and Origins

Origin of digitigrade¹

From French, dating back to 1825–35; digiti-, -grade

Example Sentences

It is digitigrade: it has five toes on the fore, and four toes on its hinder feet; its marsupial bones are simply rudimental.

From Project Gutenberg

The feet are digitigrade, usually with five (in one instance four) front and always four hind-toes.

From Project Gutenberg

The much persecuted otter presents himself to our notice among the worm-bodied, digitigrade animals.

From Project Gutenberg

The pes is digitigrade or plantigrade, and has three, rarely four, digits.

From Project Gutenberg

The feet are digitigrade and provided with long pointed claws.

From Project Gutenberg