n. [ Gr. da`ktylos finger + -logy. ] The art of communicating ideas by certain movements and positions of the fingers; a form of sign language, especially the manual alphabets used by the deaf and dumb. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

☞ There are two different manual alphabets, the one-hand alphabet (which was perfected by Abbé de l'Epée, who died in 1789), and the two-hand alphabet. The latter was probably based on the manual alphabet published by George Dalgarus of Aberdeen, in 1680. See Illustration in Appendix. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Dactyliomancy. [ R. ] Am. Cyc. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. da`ktylos finger + no`mos law, distribution. ] The art of numbering or counting by the fingers. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Gr. da`ktylos finger + &unr_; wing, fin. ] (Zool.) Having the inferior rays of the pectoral fins partially or entirely free, as in the gurnards. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. a natural family of Atlantic fishes comprising the sand stargazers.
Syn. -- family Dactyloscopidae. [ WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]

‖n. [ NL., fr. Gr. da`ktylos finger, toe + qh`kh case, box. ] (Zool.) The scaly covering of the toes, as in birds. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. da`ktylos finger + E. zooid. ] (Zool.) A kind of zooid of Siphonophora which has an elongated or even vermiform body, with one tentacle, but no mouth. See Siphonophora. [ 1913 Webster ]