brachycephalic

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   having a skull that is relatively short from front to back and broad from side to side

   The specimen was classified as brachycephalic because of its broad, rounded skull.

2. 2
   adj

   describing an animal breed with a short, broad skull and flattened muzzle

   Brachycephalic dogs can be vulnerable to breathing difficulties in hot weather.

3. 3
   noun

   a brachycephalic person or animal

   The researcher grouped the skull as a brachycephalic.

From New Latin brachycephalus, built from Greek brachys ("short") and kephale ("head") + English -ic. The anatomical term was introduced in the nineteenth century for a high ratio of skull width to length.

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