| Dorsal | a. [ F. dorsal, LL. dorsalis, fr. L. dorsualis, fr. dorsum back; cf. Gr. &unr_;, &unr_;, mountain ridge. Cf. Dorse, Dorsel, Dosel. ] 1. (Anat.) Pertaining to, or situated near, the back, or dorsum, of an animal or of one of its parts; notal; tergal; neural; as, the dorsal fin of a fish; the dorsal artery of the tongue; -- opposed to ventral. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. (Bot.) (a) Pertaining to the surface naturally inferior, as of a leaf. (b) Pertaining to the surface naturally superior, as of a creeping hepatic moss. [ 1913 Webster ]
Dorsal vessel (Zool.), a central pulsating blood vessel along the back of insects, acting as a heart. [ 1913 Webster ]
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| Dorsal | n. [ LL. dorsale, neut. fr. dorsalis. See Dorsal, a. ] (Fine Arts) A hanging, usually of rich stuff, at the back of a throne, or of an altar, or in any similar position. [ 1913 Webster ] |
