polydactyl

adjective

poly·​dac·​tyl ˌpä-lē-ˈdak-tᵊl 

: having or causing polydactyly

Examples of polydactyl in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The polydactyl cat was born with feline dwarfism and other genetic mutations that kept her kitten-sized for her entire life, with huge eyes and a protruding tongue. —NBC News, 2 Dec. 2019

The ad for Bruno, a polydactyl Russian blue mix, appeared on the Facebook page of Wright-Way Rescue Wednesday and has since gone viral. —Fox News, 19 Aug. 2018

The anthropologists found three polydactyl individuals among the 96 skeletons, all with a sixth toe on the little toe-side of the right foot. —Scott S. Warren, National Geographic, 25 July 2016

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French polydactyle, borrowed from Greek polydáktylos "having many toes," from poly- poly- + -daktylos "having digits (of the kind specified)," adjective derivative of dáktylos "finger, toe" — more at dactyl

First Known Use

1827, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for polydactyl

• dactyl
• fractal
• tactile
• retractile

Medical Definition

polydactyl

1 of 2 adjective

poly·​dac·​tyl ˌpäl-i-ˈdak-tᵊl 

: characterized by polydactyly

polydactyl strains of guinea pigs

—Genetics

also : being a gene that determines polydactyly

polydactyl

2 of 2 noun

: one having more than the normal number of toes or fingers