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dactyl

noun dac·tyl \ ˈdak-tᵊl , -ˌtil \

Definition of dactyl

: a metrical foot consisting of one long and two short syllables or of one stressed and two unstressed syllables (as in tenderly)
—

dactylic

play \dak-ˈti-lik\ adjective or noun

See dactyl defined for kids

Origin and Etymology of dactyl

Middle English dactile, from Latin dactylus, from Greek daktylos, literally, finger; from the fact that the first of three syllables is the longest, like the joints of the finger

dactyl-

combining form
variants: or dactylo-

Definition of dactyl-

: finger : toe : digit
  • dactylology

Origin and Etymology of dactyl-

Greek daktyl-, daktylo-, from daktylos

Medical Dictionary

dactyl

noun dac·tyl \ ˈdak-tᵊl \

medical Definition of dactyl

: a finger or toe

Learn More about dactyl

  1. See words that rhyme with dactyl Nglish: Translation of dactyl for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about dactyl

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