pectoral
/pɛkˈtoɹəl/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.91 in modern English
12
Scrabble Score
8
Letters
3
Syllables
8
Unique Chars
Meaning
adj
Of or pertaining to the breast, or chest.
adj
Having the breast conspicuously colored.
noun
A pectoral fin.
noun
Protective armor for a horse's breast.
noun
A covering or protection for the breast.
noun
A breastplate, especially that worn by the Jewish high priest.
Example Sentences
- "the pectoral muscles"
- "Clad in red robes and a gold pectoral cross, Agostini finally lowered his gaze as he crossed the marble floor."
- "... footballers, fashionable Counsel, corrupt parliamentarians, glistening Under Secretaries from helpful Whitehall Ministries, Greek shipowners, cockney hairdressers, unlisted maharajahs, drunk magistrates, venal mayors, ruling princes of countries that have ceased to exist, prelates in suède boots and pectoral crosses..."
- "But, in general, a few days' confinement, abstinence from flesh meat, and frequent sippings of some tepid pectoral drink, sufficed for the cure."
- "the pectoral sandpiper"
- "The Poitrinal, Pectoral, or Breast Plate was formed of plates of metal rivetted together, which covered the breast and shoulders of the horse, it was commonly adorned with foliage, or other ornaments engraved or embossed."
Etymology
All senses are ultimately from Latin pectorālis, but some may have come through Old French and Middle English.
Origin
- Source language: Latin
Word Breakdown
- Root: pectorālis
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /pɛkˈtoɹəl/
Inflected Forms
Derived Forms
Phrases
Frequently Paired Words
Pectoral in the Encyclopædia Britannica (11th edition, 1911)