Meanings
- uncountablebiologyUnusually small size resulting from the shortening of internodes.
The intermittent brachysm of line 59 was recessive to the non-brachytic, normal condition.
1957, Proceedings of the American Society for Horticultural Science, volume 70, page 1022 more examples
Some forms of disordered growth have been recognized in the United States, such as tomosis or leafcut, and brachysm or shortening of the internodes of the fruiting branches.
1916, US Bureau of Plant Industry, Report of the Chief, page 23In teosinte there is no such indication of brachysm, all branches having elongated internodes. The first indication of the contamination of teosinte with maize is in the direction of brachysm, as instanced by a shortening of the pistillate rachis, resulting in displacing the alignment of the seeds and a shortening also of the lateral vegetative branches.
1924, Journal of Agricultural Research, volume 27, page 578
Origin
- Ancient Greekβραχύς“short”
- Englishbrachysm
From Ancient Greek βραχύς (brakhús, “short”); compare brachy-.
More words from Ancient Greek
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
brachysm. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/brachysm
“brachysm.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/brachysm. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “brachysm,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/brachysm.
Source: brachysm on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.