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Added 9 October 2026

dorsal

/ˈdɔː.səl/ adjective

Latin root: dorsālis Wiktionary

adjective Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about dorsal at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Belonging to or on or near the back or upper surface of an animal or organ or part.
the dorsal fin is the vertical fin on the back of a fish and certain marine mammals
Facing away from the axis of an organ or organism.
the abaxial surface of a leaf is the underside or side facing away from the stem

Origin

From Late Middle English dorsal/dorsale, borrowing from Medieval Latin dorsālis (“of or relating to the back”), from dorsum (“the back”) + -ālis (“-al”, adjectival suffix); equivalent to dorsum + -al.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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