perissodactyl

[ puh-ris-oh-dak-til ]

adjective

1. having an uneven number of toes or digits on each foot.

noun

1. any mammal of the order Perissodactyla, comprising the odd-toed hoofed quadrupeds and including the tapirs, rhinoceroses, and horses.

perissodactyl

/ pəˌrɪsəʊˈdæktɪl; pəˌrɪsəʊˈdæktaɪl /

noun

1. any placental mammal of the order Perissodactyla, having hooves with an odd number of toes: includes horses, tapirs, and rhinoceroses

adjective

1. of, relating to, or belonging to the Perissodactyla

perissodactyl

/ pə-rĭs′ō-dăk′təl /

1. Any of various hoofed mammals of the order Perissodactyla, having one or three hoofed toes on each hindfoot. During the Tertiary Period, perissodactyls were the dominant herbivorous fauna. Horses, tapirs, and rhinoceroses are perissodactyls.
2. Also called odd-toed ungulate

Derived Forms

• peˌrissoˈdactylous, adjective

Other Words From

• pe·risso·dacty·lous adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of perissodactyl¹

1840–50; < New Latin perissodactylus < Greek perissó ( s ) uneven, literally, beyond the norm, strange (derivative of périx (preposition and adv.) round about, akin to perí; peri- ) + -daktylos -dactylous

Word History and Origins

Origin of perissodactyl¹

C19: from New Latin perissodactylus, from Greek perissos uneven + daktulos digit

Example Sentences

In the year 1898 the family had to buy a new set of harness for the Perissodactyl.

From Project Gutenberg

These animals, which are grouped with the horse among the odd-toed (perissodactyl) mammals, are now verging toward extinction.

From Project Gutenberg

Or, to put it more definitely: hoofed animals are divided into two groups, even-toed (artiodactyl) and odd-toed (perissodactyl).

From Project Gutenberg

The great group is now usually divided into those that are odd-toed (Perissodactyl) and those that are even-toed (Artiodactyl).

From Project Gutenberg

One leading to the existing perissodactyl foot, and the other, apparently later, resulting in the artiodactyl type.

From Project Gutenberg