xiphiplastron en · NOUN
Etymology
Coined by Thomas Henry Huxley in 1872 as xipho- + plastron. Superseded the earlier xiphisternum, a nominalised form of the French adjective xiphisternal, coined by Étienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire in 1818. The prefix is from Ancient Greek ξιφοειδής (xiphoeidḗs, “sword-shaped”), ultimately from ξίφος (xíphos, “sword”), in analogy with the xiphoid process at the posteriormost end of the human sternum.
Meanings
- The posterior, or fourth lateral plate in the plastron of a turtle.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| xiphiplastra | Number=Plur | lexicographic | |
| xiphiplastrons | Number=Plur | lexicographic |