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rictal

 - 2 dictionary results

ric⋅tus

  [rik-tuhs]
Use rictal in a Sentence
–noun, plural -tus, -tus⋅es.
1. the gape of the mouth of a bird.
2. the gaping or opening of the mouth.
Origin:
1750–60; < L: wide-open mouth, equiv. to rig-, var. s. of ringī to open the mouth wide + -tus suffix of v. action.

Related forms:
rictal, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To rictal
ric·tus   (rĭk'təs)   
n.   pl. rictus or ric·tus·es

  1. The expanse of an open mouth, a bird's beak, or similar structure.

  2. A gaping grimace: "his mouth gaping in a kind of rictus of startled alarm" (Richard Adams).


[Latin, from past participle of ringī, to gape.]
ric'tal adj.
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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