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fossorial

 - 2 dictionary results

fos⋅so⋅ri⋅al

  [fo-sawr-ee-uhl, -sohr-]
Use fossorial in a Sentence
–adjective Zoology.
1. digging or burrowing.
2. adapted for digging, as the hands, feet, and bone structure of moles, armadillos, and aardvarks.
Origin:
1830–40; < LL fossōri(us) adapted to digging (equiv. to L fod(ere) to dig + tōrius -tory 1 , with dt > ss) + -al 1
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To fossorial
fos·so·ri·al   (fŏ-sôr'ē-əl, -sōr'-)   
adj.   Zoology
Adapted for or used in burrowing or digging: the fossorial forefeet of a mole.

[From Late Latin fossōrius, from Latin fossus, past participle of fodere, to dig.]
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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