Dorsal
Dorsal , adjective
[French dorsal, Late Latin dorsalis, from Latin dorsualis, from dorsum back; compare Greek {not transcribed}, {not transcribed}, mountain ridge. Compare Dorse, Dorsel, Dosel.]
1.
(Anatomy) Pertaining to, or situated near, the back, or dorsum, of an animal or of one of its parts; notal; tergal; neural; as, the dorsal fin of a fish; the dorsal artery of the tongue; -- opposed to ventral.
2.
(a) (Botany) Pertaining to the surface naturally inferior, as of a leaf.
(b)
(Botany) Pertaining to the surface naturally superior, as of a creeping hepatic moss.
Collocations (1)
Dorsal vessel (Zoology) , a central pulsating blood vessel along the back of insects, acting as a heart.
Dorsal , noun
[Late Latin dorsale, neut. from dorsalis. See Dorsal, a.]
(Fine Arts) A hanging, usually of rich stuff, at the back of a throne, or of an altar, or in any similar position.