[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

dactyl \dac"tyl\ da^k"ti^l, n. l. dactylus, gr. da`ktylos
   a finger, a dactyl. cf. digit.
   1. pros. a poetical foot of three sylables --- crescent
      crescent, one long followed by two short, or one
      accented followed by two unaccented; as, l.
      t"egmi^ne^, e. merbprimeciful; -- so called from
      the similarity of its arrangement to that of the joints of
      a finger. written also dactyle.
      1913 webster

   2. zool.
      a a finger or toe; a digit.
      b the claw or terminal joint of a leg of an insect or
          crustacean.
          1913 webster
see also:
digit dactyle 

Dactyle >> D Words
Dactyle, definition of term: Dactyle
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