See Also: pectoral(dictionary)
Pectoral(health)
pectoral(medicine)
pectoral muscles(medicine)
pectoral region(medicine)
pectoral glands(medicine)
pectoral girdle(medicine)
pectoral fascia(medicine)
pectoral ridge(medicine)
pectoral veins(medicine)

pectoral (iou)



pectoral noun & adjective. LME.
[Old & mod. French from Latin pectorale breastplate, pectoralis (adjective), from pector-, pectus breast, chest: see -AL1. Cf. PEC, PECT.]
A. noun.
a. An ornamental cloth or breastplate worn over the chest, spec. by a Jewish high priest or by a Roman Catholic bishop in celebrating mass. LME.
b. A piece of armour for the chest. L16.
c. An ornamental cloth or a piece of armour for the chest of a horse. obsolete exc. Hist. E17.
A medicine, food, or drink good for digestive or esp. respiratory complaints. Now rare. E17.
= pectoral muscle, pectoral fin below. Usu. in pl. M18.
b. adjective.
Chiefly Anatomy. Of, pertaining to, situated or occurring in or upon the chest; thoracic. L15.
Of a medicine, food, or drink: good for digestive or esp. respiratory complaints. Now rare. L16.
Worn on the chest. E17.
fig. Proceeding from the heart, emotional. arch. M17.
Special collocations: pectoral arch the bones which support the forelimbs, the pectoral or shoulder girdle. pectoral cross Christian Church a cross or crucifix worn on a long chain around the neck so that it rests on the chest, worn esp. by bishops, abbots, and priests. pectoral fin each of the paired lateral fins attached to the pectoral arch in fishes, corresponding to the forelimbs of other vertebrates. pectoral girdle: see GIRDLE noun1 4a. pectoral muscle any of the four large paired muscles which cover the front of the ribcage and serve to draw the forelimbs towards the chest (freq. in pl.). pectoral quail a stubble-quail. pectoral sandpiper a migratory Arctic-breeding sandpiper, Calidris melanotos, which often has dark streaked markings on the breast.