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Crissum - 3 dictionary results

cris⋅sum

   [kris-uhm]
–noun, plural cris⋅sa  [kris-uh] . Ornithology.
1. the region surrounding the cloacal opening beneath the tail of a bird.
2. the feathers of this region collectively.
Origin:
1870–75; < NL, equiv. to L criss(āre) to move the haunches + -um n. suffix
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
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cris·sum     (krĭs'əm)  Pronunciation Key 
n.   pl. cris·sa (krĭs'ə)
The feathers or area under the tail of a bird surrounding the cloacal opening.

[New Latin, from Latin crīsāre, crissāre, to move the buttocks during intercourse; see sker-2 in Indo-European roots.]
cris'sal (-əl) adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Crissum

Cris"sum\ (kr?s"s?m),, n.; pl. Crissa (-s?). [NL.; cf. L. crisso to move the haunches.] (Zo["o]l.) That part of a bird, or the feathers, surrounding the cloacal opening; the under tail coverts.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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