1. (Anat.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or situated near, the back, or dorsum, of an animal or of one of its parts; notal; tergal; neural; as, the dorsal fin of a fish; the dorsal artery of the tongue; — opposed to ventral.
2. (Bot.) (a) Pertaining to the surface naturally inferior, as of a leaf. (b) Pertaining to the surface naturally superior, as of a creeping hepatic moss. Dorsal vessel (Zoöl.), a central pulsating blood vessel along the back of insects, acting as a heart.
DORSAL
Dor"sal, n. Etym: [LL. dorsale, neut. fr. dorsalis. See Dorsal, a.]
(Fine Arts)
Defn: A hanging, usually of rich stuff, at the back of a throne, or of an altar, or in any similar position.
DORSALE
Dor"sale, n.
Defn: Same as Dorsal, n.
DORSALLY
Dor"sal*ly, adv. (Anat.)
Defn: On, or toward, the dorsum, or back; on the dorsal side of; dorsad.
DORSE
Dorse, n. Etym: [Cf. L. dorsum the back. See Dorsel, Dosel.]