| scissiparity | <biology> Reproduction by fission. Origin: L. Scissus (p.p. Of scindere to split) + parere to bring forth: cf.F. Scissiparite. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| scissor gait | One leg swings across the other instead of straight forward, producing a criss-cross motion of the legs in walking, with the foot imprints reversed; bilateral hemiplegic gait. (05 Mar 2000) |
| scissors | A cutting instrument resembling shears, but smaller, consisting of two cutting blades with handles, movable on a pin in the center, by which they are held together. Often called a pair of scissors. <zoology> [Formerly written also cisors, cizars, and scissars] Scissors grinder, the European goatsucker. Origin: OE. Sisoures, OF. Cisoires (cf. F. Ciseaux), probably fr. LL. Cisorium a cutting instrument, fr. L. Caedere to cut. Cf. Chisel, Concise. The modern spelling is due to a mistaken derivation from L. Scissor one who cleaves or divides, fr. Scindere, scissum, to cut, spilt. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| scissors-shadow | A distorted image seen in mixed astigmatism by retinoscopy. (05 Mar 2000) |
| scissors-tailed | <zoology> Having the outer feathers much the longest, the others decreasing regularly to the median ones. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| scissorsbill | <zoology> See Skimmer. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| scissorstail | Of the Southern United States and Mexico, which has a deeply forked tail. It is light gray above, white beneath, salmon on the flanks, and fiery red at the base of the crown feathers. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| scissura | 1. Cleft or fissure. 2. A splitting. Synonym: scissure. Origin: L. (05 Mar 2000) |
| scissura pilorum | A splitting of the hairs at their ends. Synonym: scissura pilorum. Origin: schizo-+ G. Thrix, hair (05 Mar 2000) |
| scissure | 1. Cleft or fissure. 2. A splitting. Synonym: scissure. Origin: L. (05 Mar 2000) |
| scitamineous | <botany> Of or pertaining to a natural order of plants (Scitamimeae), mostly tropical herbs, including the ginger, Indian shot, banana, and the plants producing turmeric and arrowroot. Origin: NL. Sciamineosus, fr. Scitamineze, fr. L. Scitamentum a delicacy, dainty. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| sciuridae | A family of the order rodentia which contains 49 genera. Some of the more common genera are marmota, which includes the marmot and woodchuck; sciurus, the gray squirrel, s. Carolinensis, and the fox squirrel, s. Niger; tamias, the eastern and western chipmunk; and tamiasciurus, the red squirrel. The flying squirrels, except the scaly-tailed anomaluridae, also belong to this family. (12 Dec 1998) |
| sciurine | <zoology> Of or pertaining to the Squirrel family. A rodent of the Squirrel family. Origin: Cf. F. Sciurien. See Sciurus. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| sciuroid | <botany> Resembling the tail of a squirrel; generally said of branches which are close and dense, or of spikes of grass like barley. Origin: Sciurus. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| sciuromorpha | <zoology> A tribe of rodents containing the squirrels and allied animals, such as the gophers, woodchucks, beavers, and others. Origin: NL, fr. L. Sciurus squirrel + Gr. From. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |