PECTORAL Pec"to*ral, a. Etym: [L. pectoralis, fr. pectus, -oris the breast; cf. F. pectoral.]
1. Of or pertaining to the breast, or chest; as, the pectoral muscles.
2. Relating to, or good for, diseases of the chest or lungs; as, a pectoral remedy.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having the breast conspicuously colored; as, the pectoral sandpiper. Pectoral arch, or Pectoral girdle (Anat.), the two or more bony or cartilaginous pieces of the vertebrate skeleton to which the fore limbs are articulated; the shoulder girdle. In man it consists of two bones, the scapula and clavicle, on each side. — Pectorial cross (Eccl.), a cross worn on the breast by bishops and abbots, and sometimes also by canons. — Pectorial fins, or Pectorials (Zoöl.), fins situated on the sides, behind the gills. See Illust. under Fin. — Pectorial rail. (Zoöl.) See Land rail (b) under Land. — Pectorial sandpiper (Zoöl.), the jacksnipe (b).
PECTORAL Pec"to*ral, n. Etym: [L. pectorale a breastplate, neut. of pectorials.]
1. A covering or protecting for the breast.
2. (Eccl.) (a) A breastplate, esp. that worn by the Jewish high person. (b) A clasp or a cross worn on the breast.
3. A medicine for diseases of the chest organs, especially the lungs.
PECTORALLY
Pec"to*ral*ly, adv.