forelimb

American  

[fawr-lim, fohr-] / ˈfɔrˌlɪm, ˈfoʊr- /

noun

1. a front limb of an animal.

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forelimb British  

/ ˈfɔːˌlɪm /

noun

1. either of the front or anterior limbs of a four-limbed vertebrate: a foreleg, flipper, or wing

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Etymology

Origin of forelimb

First recorded in 1785–95; fore- + limb ¹

Example Sentences

Interestingly, researchers were even able to change the forelimb preference of the mice.

From Science Daily • Feb. 25, 2024

The sheer force of their thousand-pound bodies pummels the dirt track's hazardous slings — but only after first funneling through the narrow cabling of their spindly forelimb ligaments.

From Salon • Jun. 10, 2023

Since 2016, he had some discomfort and lameness in his right forelimb, zoo officials said.

From Washington Post • Oct. 21, 2022

Large swaths of preserved skin covers the bones of the dinosaur’s right forelimb, hind limbs and tail.

From Scientific American • Oct. 14, 2022

The left forelimb is the only one present and appears to be nearly complete, although the elements are scattered almost at random.

From A New Order of Fishlike Amphibia From the Pennsylvanian of Kansas by Eaton, Theodore H. (Theodore Hildreth)