English Explanatory Dictionary

dactyl

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A metrical foot of three syllables (— ⏑ ⏑), one long followed by two short, or one accented followed by two unaccented.

Pronunciation

/ˈdæktɪl/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-dactyl.wav

Word forms

dactyl dactyls dactyle dactile

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Latin dactylus, from Ancient Greek δάκτυλος (dáktulos, “finger”), three bones of the finger corresponding to three syllables. Doublet of dactylus and date.

Related words

dactylic polydactyl anapest spondee finger

Derived words

cephalopolysyndactyly dactylar dactylist double dactyl leptodactylous paradactylum
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