dorsal

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   belonging to or on or near the back or upper surface of an animal or organ or part

   The dorsal fin is the vertical fin on the back of a fish and certain marine mammals.

2. 2
   noun

   A hanging, usually of rich stuff, at the back of a throne, altar, etc.

   Near-synonyms: altar screen, rood screen (not always different).

3. 3
   adj

   facing away from the axis of an organ or organism

4. 4
   adj

   With respect to, or concerning the side in which the backbone is located, or the analogous side of an invertebrate.

From Late Middle English dorsal/dorsale, borrowing from Medieval Latin dorsālis (“of or relating to the back”), from dorsum (“the back”) + -ālis (“-al”, adjectival suffix); equivalent to dorsum + -al.

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