proscapulan.
/prəʊˈskapjᵿlə/, U.S. /proʊˈskæpjələ/ Zoology. Now rare.
The anterior part of the scapula, or of the scapular arch; spec. †(a) (T. Gill's term for) a bone forming part of the pectoral girdle in some fishes, formed by the paired clavicles which extend downward and forward below the gills and are fused ventrally (obsolete); (b) = procoracoid adj. and n. (b) at pro- prefix2 2a.
ΚΠ
1872 T. Gill Arrangem. Families Fishes p. xvii This compound bone, composed of the scapula and ectocoracoid fused together..may be designated as proscapula.
1890 Amer. Naturalist 24 404 The element corresponding to the ‘proscapula’ of Gill..is by Gegenbaur called the clavicle... The clavicle of Gegenbaur is the coracoid of Owen.
1892 Proc. Amer. Philos. Soc. 30 129 The scapula [in the fossil reptile Episcoposaurus haplocerus] is massive... No proscapula.
1904 Amer. Naturalist 38 105 The shoulder girdle structure [of Testudinata]..is still in dispute, the main question being as to the homologies of the anterior ventral processes variously known as the ‘procoracoid’ or ‘proscapula’.
Derivatives
proˈscapular adj.
ΚΠ
1890 Cent. Dict. Proscapular, in ichth., relating to the proscapular, or having its character.
1892 Proc. Amer. Philos. Soc. 30 194 The scapula presents a proscapular process in many families and genera [of lizard].
1936 Q. Rev. Biol. 11 184/1 Archosaurs..had girdles that were quite narrow, with the coracoid undivided by suture, and this is the case in chelonians (the ‘procoracoid’ in that group is a proscapular process).
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2007; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1872