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elasmobranch

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e⋅las⋅mo⋅branch

[i-las-muh-brangk, i-laz-]
–adjective
1. belonging or pertaining to the Elasmobranchii, the subclass of cartilaginous fishes comprising the sharks and rays.
–noun
2. an elasmobranch fish.

Origin:
1870–75; < NL Elasmobranchii, equiv. to Gk elasm(ós) beaten metal (deriv. of elaúnein; see elastic ) + -o- -o- + -branchii, pl. of -branchius, NL coinage based on Gk bránchia branchia
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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e·las·mo·branch   (ĭ-lāz'mə-brāngk')   
n.  Any of numerous fishes of the class Chondrichthyes, characterized by a cartilaginous skeleton and placoid scales and including the sharks, rays, and skates.
adj.  Of or belonging to the class Chondrichthyes.

[From New Latin Elasmobranchiī, former subclass name : Greek elasmos, metal beaten out (from elaunein, elas-, to beat) + Latin branchia, gill; see branchia.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: elas·mo·branch
Pronunciation: i-'laz-m&-"bra[ng]k
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural -branchs
: any fishof the class Chondrichthyes —elasmobranch adjective
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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