monodactylousadj.
/ˌmɒnə(ʊ)ˈdaktᵻləs/, /ˌmɒnə(ʊ)ˈdaktl̩əs/, U.S. /ˌmɑnəˈdæktələs/ 1. Zoology and Medicine. Having only one digit, finger, or toe (as a normal condition in some mammals or a congenital abnormality in humans and other vertebrates). Cf. monodactyl adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > animal body > general parts > body and limbs > [adjective] > having separate digits > having one digit or claw
monodactyl1819
monodactylous1832
monodactylate1902
1832 N. Webster Dict. Eng. Lang. Monodactylous, having one finger or toe only.
1881 Nature 29 Sept. 527/2 A link..between our modern monodactylous horse and its three-toed ancestor.
1974 Nature 8 Mar. 175/1 Some peramelids progress by quadrupedal saltation..while others..have become functionally monodactylous quadrupeds.
1990 Clin. Orthopaedics No. 258. 41 An increasing degree of malformation was found, from deepening of a central interdigital commissure to a monodactylous cleft foot.
2. Zoology and Entomology. Having a single claw, esp. one that is able to fold back on a leg in order to grasp.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > invertebrates > phylum Arthropoda > class Crustacea > [adjective] > of parts of > having a subchela
monodactyl1819
subcheliform1836
monodactylous1841
subchelate1852
1841 Penny Cycl. XXI. 421/1 The last three pairs [of feet of shrimps of the genus Alpheus] are monodactylous.
1856–8 W. Clark tr. J. van der Hoeven Handbk. Zool. I. 671 Hippoidea.—First pair of feet monodactylous or subchelate.
1994 Acarologia 35 381 R[hysotritia] riezuae is characterized by its monodactylous tarsi, the single lateral keel on the aspis, [etc.].
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2002; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1832