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dorsal

UK/ˈdɔː.səl/UK/ˈdɔː.sl̩/US/ˈdɔɹ.səl/

adjective

What it means

  1. With respect to, or concerning the side in which the backbone is located, or the analogous side of an invertebrate.
    1. anatomyRelating to the top surface of the foot or hand.
    2. anatomyProduced using the dorsum of the tongue.
  2. Having only one sharp side.

In a sentence

Near-synonyms: altar screen, rood screen (not always different)

Where it comes from

  1. Medieval Latindorsālis“of or relating to the back”
  2. Middle Englishdorsal/dorsale
  3. Englishdorsal

From Late Middle English dorsal/dorsale, borrowing from Medieval Latin dorsālis (“of or relating to the back”), from dorsum (“the back”) + -ālis (“-al”, adjectival suffix); equivalent to dorsum + -al.

Full entry for dorsal →

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