Pectoral
Pectoral (pek"to*ral) , adjective
[Latin pectoralis, from pectus, -oris the breast; compare French pectoral.]
1.
Of or pertaining to the breast, or chest; as, the pectoral muscles.
2.
Relating to, or good for, diseases of the chest or lungs; as, a pectoral remedy.
3.
(Zoology) Having the breast conspicuously colored; as, the pectoral sandpiper.
Collocations (5)
Pectoral arch or Pectoral girdle (Anatomy) , 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 (Ecclesiastical) , a cross worn on the breast by bishops and abbots, and sometimes also by canons.
Pectoral fins or Pectorals (Zoology) , fins situated on the sides, behind the gills. See Illust. under Fin.
Pectoral sandpiper (Zoology) , the jacksnipe (b).
Pectoral , noun
[Latin pectorale a breastplate, neut. of pectoralis.]
1.
A covering or protecting for the breast.
2.
(a) (Ecclesiastical) A breastplate, esp. that worn by the Jewish high person.
(b)
(Ecclesiastical) A clasp or a cross worn on the breast.
3.
A medicine for diseases of the chest organs, especially the lungs.