Dactyl

['dæktɪl]

Definition

(noun.) a metrical unit with stressed-unstressed-unstressed syllables.

Typed by Frank--From WordNet

Definition

(n.) A poetical foot of three sylables (-- ~ ~), one long followed by two short, or one accented followed by two unaccented; as, L. tegm/n/, E. mer\b6ciful; -- so called from the similarity of its arrangement to that of the joints of a finger.

(n.) A finger or toe; a digit.

(n.) The claw or terminal joint of a leg of an insect or crustacean.

Checker: Wade

Definition

n. in Latin and Greek poetry a foot of three syllables one long followed by two short so called from its likeness to the joints of a finger; in English a foot of three syllables with the first accented as mer'rily vi'olate.—adjs. Dac′tylar Dactyl′ic relating to or consisting chiefly of dactyls.—ns. Dactyl′iomancy divination by means of a finger-ring; Dac′tylist; Dactylog′raphy the science of finger-rings; Dactylol′ogy the art of talking with the fingers like the deaf and dumb.

Checked by Adrienne