%ostern%

‖n.; pl. Entosterna [ NL. See Ento-, and Sternum. ] (Anat.) See Entoplastron. -- En`to*ster"nal a. [1913 Webster]

a. [ Hyo- + ternal. ] (Anat.) (a) Between the hyoid bone and the sternum, or pertaining to them; infrahyoid; as, the hyosternal region of the neck. (b) Pertaining to the hyosternum of turtles. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ Hyo- + sternum. ] (Anat.) See Hyoplastron. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n.; pl. L. Hyposterna E. Hyposternums [ Pref. hypo- + sternum. ] (Anat.) See Hypoplastron.

a. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the mesosternum. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ Meso- + sternum. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. (Anat.) The middle portion, or body, of the sternum. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Zool.) The ventral piece of the middle segment of the thorax in insects. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the omosternum. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Omo- + sternum. ] (Anat.) (a) The anterior element of the sternum which projects forward from between the clavicles in many batrachians and is usually tipped with cartilage. (b) In many mammals, an interarticular cartilage, or bone, between the sternum and the clavicle. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. posterne, posterle, F. poterne, fr. L. posterula, fr. posterus coming after. See Posterior. ] 1. Originally, a back door or gate; a private entrance; hence, any small door or gate. [ 1913 Webster ]

He by a privy postern took his flight. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

Out at the postern, by the abbey wall. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Fort.) A subterraneous passage communicating between the parade and the main ditch, or between the ditches and the interior of the outworks. Mahan. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Back; being behind; private. “The postern door.” Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. See Prostration. ] Dejection; depression. [ Obs. ] Wiseman. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ NL. See Pro- and Sternum. ] (Zool.) The ventral plate of the prothorax of an insect. [ 1913 Webster ]