Dictionary-Definition.com :: Pectoral definition

Definition of 'pectoral'

adjective

Of or relating to the chest or thorax; "pectoral organ" [syn: pectoral, thoracic]

noun

Either of two large muscles of the chest [syn: pectoral, pectoral muscle, pectoralis, musculus pectoralis, pecs]

noun

An adornment worn on the chest or breast [syn: pectoral, pectoral medallion]

From: GCIDE

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. [1913 Webster]
2. Relating to, or good for, diseases of the chest or lungs; as, a pectoral remedy. [1913 Webster]
3. (Zool.) Having the breast conspicuously colored; as, the pectoral sandpiper. [1913 Webster]
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) . [1913 Webster]

From: GCIDE

Pectoral \Pec"to*ral\, n. [L. pectorale a breastplate, neut. of pectoralis.]
1. A covering or protecting for the breast. [1913 Webster]
2. (Eccl.) (a) A breastplate, esp. that worn by the Jewish high person. (b) A clasp or a cross worn on the breast. [1913 Webster]
3. A medicine for diseases of the chest organs, especially the lungs. [1913 Webster]

From: GCIDE

Girdle \Gir"dle\, n. [OE. gurdel, girdel, AS. gyrdel, fr. gyrdan; akin to D. gordel, G. g["u]rtel, Icel. gyr?ill. See Gird, v. t., to encircle, and cf. Girth, n.] [1913 Webster]
1. That which girds, encircles, or incloses; a circumference; a belt; esp., a belt, sash, or article of dress encircling the body usually at the waist; a cestus. [1913 Webster]
Within the girdle of these walls. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
Their breasts girded with golden girdles. --Rev. xv. 6. [1913 Webster]
2. The zodiac; also, the equator. [Poetic] --Bacon. [1913 Webster]
From the world's girdle to the frozen pole. --Cowper. [1913 Webster]
That gems the starry girdle of the year. --Campbell. [1913 Webster]
3. (Jewelry) The line ofgreatest circumference of a brilliant-cut diamond, at which it is grasped by the setting. See Illust. of Brilliant. --Knight. [1913 Webster]
4. (Mining) A thin bed or stratum of stone. --Raymond. [1913 Webster]
5. (Zool.) The clitellus of an earthworm. [1913 Webster]
Girdle bone (Anat.), the sphenethmoid. See under Sphenethmoid.
Girdle wheel, a spinning wheel.
Sea girdle (Zool.), a ctenophore. See Venus's girdle, under Venus.
Shoulder, Pectoral, & Pelvic, girdle. (Anat.) See under Pectoral, and Pelvic.
To have under the girdle, to have bound to one, that is, in subjection. [1913 Webster]