zygodactyl

adjective

zy·go·dac·tyl ˌzī-gə-ˈdak-tᵊl

: having the toes arranged two in front and two behind

—used of a bird

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary zyg- + Greek daktylos toe

First Known Use

1831, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of zygodactyl was in 1831

See more words from the same year

Browse Nearby Words

Zygocactus

zygodactyl

Zygodactylae

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Zygodactyl.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/zygodactyl. Accessed 3 Nov. 2025.

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Medical Definition

zygodactyl

adjective

zy·go·dac·tyl ˌzī-gə-ˈdak-tᵊl

: syndactyl

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