hamiform

H4A1M3I1F4O1R1M3
UK, UK/ˈheɪmɪfɔːm/

adjective

Curved at the extremity.

Scrabble 18

Meanings

adjectivehamiform (comparative more hamiform, superlative most hamiform)

comparative more hamiform · superlative most hamiform

  1. biologyCurved at the extremity.

    Hamiform, curved at the extremity.

    1843, Thomas Brown, The Elements of Fossil Conchology, glossary, page 129
    3 more examples

    HAMIFORM. (Hamus, a hook.) Curved at the extremity.

    1842, George Brettingham Sowerby, A Conchological Manual, 3rd edition, page 156

    Distinguished by the elongated hamiform siphonal canal and the posterior canal co-ordinated with the “facies” of Aporrhais.

    1870, American Journal of Conchology, volume V, page 139

    Legs (♂) light: anterior femora long, rather narrow; a short cylindrical hamiform process (a hook with apex sharply bent towards base of femur) projecting from lower side at about ⅓ of its length: anterior tibiæ long, narrow on basal half, wide at apex, nor curved; intermediate long (longer than femora), strongly curved inwards; posterior long, slender: anterior tarsi stout, joints not dilatate, 5th longest, longer than three preceding together, basal joint much longer than 2nd, squamulose in middle of lower side near apex, 2nd and 3rd joints with two narrow rows of squamæ in middle of lower side; four posterior tarsi narrow, cylindrical, posterior much longer than intermediate; posterior coxæ contiguous.

    1904, Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales, volume XXVIII, page 590
  2. Shaped like a hook.

    Pinnae subentire or slightly repand, gradually short-acuminate; under surface provided with gland-like, hamiform hairs; main rachis provided with a callous gland at the place of insertion of the pinnae.

    1916, Cornelis Rugier Willem Karel Alderwerelt van Rosenburgh, Malayan Ferns and Fern Allies, Landsdrukkerij, page 177

Origin

  1. Latinhāmiformis
  2. Englishhamiform

First attested in glossaries in 1842 and first used in 1870; either directly from the Latin hāmiformis (1651, 1806) or formed from the suffixation of its etymon, hāmus (“hook”), with the English -form.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Finnish päästä käyristynyt, koukkumainen
  • päästä käyristynytconchology: curved at the extremity
  • koukkumainenshaped like a hook
Hungarian horgos, horgas
  • horgosconchology: curved at the extremity
  • horgasconchology: curved at the extremity
  • kampósconchology: curved at the extremity
  • horogszerűshaped like a hook
  • kampószerűshaped like a hook
  • horog/kampó alakúshaped like a hook
Polish haczykowaty, haczykowaty
  • haczykowatyconchology: curved at the extremity
  • haczykowatyshaped like a hook
Swedish hakformig, krokformad
  • hakformigconchology: curved at the extremity
  • krokformadshaped like a hook
  • hakformigshaped like a hook
Cite this entry
APA

hamiform. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hamiform

MLA

“hamiform.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hamiform. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “hamiform,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hamiform.

Source: hamiform on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.