a. [ Gr. &unr_; gill + &unr_; to cover: cf. F. branchiostège. ] (Anat.) Pertaining to the membrane covering the gills of fishes. --
☞ This term was formerly applied to a group of fishes having boneless branchiæ. But the arrangement was artificial, and has been rejected. [ 1913 Webster ]
(Anat.) The branchiostegal membrane. See Illustration in Appendix. [ 1913 Webster ]
a. (Anat.) Branchiostegal. [ 1913 Webster ]
‖n. [ NL., fr., Gr. &unr_; gill + &unr_; mouth. ] (Zool.) The lancelet. See Amphioxus. [ 1913 Webster ]