from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Pectoral \Pec"to*ral\ (p[e^]k"t[-o]*ral), a. [L. pectoralis, fr.
pectus, -oris the breast; cf. F. pectoral.]
1. Of or pertaining to the breast, or chest; as, the pectoral
muscles.
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2. Relating to, or good for, diseases of the chest or lungs;
as, a pectoral remedy.
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3. (Zool.) Having the breast conspicuously colored; as, the
pectoral sandpiper.
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{Pectoral arch}, or {Pectoral girdle} (Anat.), the two or
more bony or cartilaginous pieces of the vertebrate
skeleton to which the fore limbs are articulated; the
shoulder girdle. In man it consists of two bones, the
scapula and clavicle, on each side.
{Pectoral cross} (Eccl.), a cross worn on the breast by
bishops and abbots, and sometimes also by canons.
{Pectoral fins}, or {Pectorals} (Zool.), fins situated on the
sides, behind the gills. See Illust. under {Fin}.
{Pectoral rail}. (Zool.) See {Land rail}
(b) under {Land}.
{Pectoral sandpiper} (Zool.), the jacksnipe
(b) .
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