Dor"sal , n. [LL. dorsale, neut. fr. dorsalis. See Dorsal, a.]
(Fine Arts)
A hanging, usually of rich stuff, at the
back of a throne, or of
an altar, or
in any similar position.
Dor"sal (?), a. [F. dorsal, LL.
dorsalis, fr. L. dorsualis, fr. dorsum back; cf. Gr. &?;,
&?;, mountain ridge. Cf.
Dorse, Dorsel,
Dosel.]
1. (Anat.)
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.
Hear it pronounced