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 bránchiabranchia
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.]
Main Entry: elas·mo·branch Pronunciation: i-'laz-m&-"bra[ng]k Function: noun Inflected Form: plural-branchs : any fishof the class Chondrichthyes —elasmobranchadjective