WordWeight : Weighing the Words

Pronunciation : Dor"sal
Part of Speech : a.
Etymology : [F. dorsal, LL. dorsalis, fr. L. dorsualis, fr. dorsum back; cf. Gr. Dorse, Dorsel, Dosel.]
Definition : 1. (Anat.)

Defn: Pertaining to, or situated near, the back, or dorsum, of an animal or of one of its parts; notal; tergal; neural; as, the dorsal fin of a fish; the dorsal artery of the tongue; -- opposed to ventral.

2. (Bot.) (a) Pertaining to the surface naturally inferior, as of a leaf. (b) Pertaining to the surface naturally superior, as of a creeping hepatic moss. Dorsal vessel (Zo?l.), a central pulsating blood vessel along the back of insects, acting as a heart.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913

Pronunciation : Dor"sal
Part of Speech : n.
Etymology : [LL. dorsale, neut. fr. dorsalis. See Dorsal, a.] (Fine Arts)
Definition : Defn: A hanging, usually of rich stuff, at the back of a throne, or of an altar, or in any similar position.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913