The Collaborative International Dictionary
Pectoral \Pec"to*ral\ (p[e^]k"t[-o]*ral), a. [L. pectoralis, fr. pectus, -oris the breast; cf. F. pectoral.]
Of or pertaining to the breast, or chest; as, the pectoral muscles.
Relating to, or good for, diseases of the chest or lungs; as, a pectoral remedy.
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(Zo["o]l.) Having the breast conspicuously colored; as, the pectoral sandpiper.
Pectoral arch, or Pectoral girdle (Anat.), the two or more bony or cartilaginous pieces of the vertebrate skeleton to which the fore limbs are articulated; the shoulder girdle. In man it consists of two bones, the scapula and clavicle, on each side.
Pectoral cross (Eccl.), a cross worn on the breast by bishops and abbots, and sometimes also by canons.
Pectoral fins, or Pectorals (Zo["o]l.), fins situated on the sides, behind the gills. See Illust. under Fin.
Pectoral rail. (Zo["o]l.) See Land rail (b) under Land.
Pectoral sandpiper (Zo["o]l.), the jacksnipe (b) .
WordNet
n. the bony arch formed by the collarbones and shoulder blades in humans [syn: shoulder girdle]