digitigrade, a. and n. Zool.
(ˈdɪdʒɪtɪˌgreɪd)
[a. F. digitigrade, in mod.L. digitigrada (Cuvier 1817), f. L. digit-us (digit) + -gradus, going, walking.]
A. adj. Walking on the toes; spec. in Zool. belonging to the tribe Digitigrada of Carnivora (in Cuvier's classification); also said of the feet, or walk, of such an animal. (Opp. to plantigrade.)
| 1833 Penny Cycl. I. 4 The legs also are completely digitigrade; that is to say, the heel is elevated, and does not come into contact with the surface..Digitigrade animals, which tread only upon the toes..have much longer legs than plantigrade animals. 1839–47 Todd Cycl. Anat. III. 450/2 The feathered tribe traverse the surface of the earth as digitigrade bipeds. 1881 Mivart Cat 129 The cat's mode of progression is spoken of as digitigrade. |
B. n. A digitigrade animal. (Chiefly in pl.)
| 1835 Kirby Hab. & Inst. Anim. II. xvii. 212 Digitigrades..consist of the feline, canine, and several other tribes. 1845 Whewell Indic. Creator 41 Some of the orders of quadrupeds, namely the rodents, ruminants, digitigrades. |
Hence ˈdigitiˌgradism, digitigrade condition.
| 1887 E. D. Cope Origin of Fittest 376 The groove of the astragalus deepens coincidently with the increase of digitigradism. |