fissiped, fissipede, a. and n.
(ˈfɪsɪpɛd, -piːd)
[ad. late L. fissiped-em, f. fiss-us, pa. pple. of findĕre to split + ped-em, pēs foot.]
A. adj. Having the toes separated.
| 1656 Blount Glossogr, Fissiped, cloven-footed. 1847 Craig, Fissiped. 1882 W. A. Forbes in Nature No. 639. 287 The three great groups of fissiped Carnivora. |
B. n. An animal having its toes divided.
In the two first quots. the word may be Latin.
| 1646 Sir T. Browne Pseud. Ep. v. i. 234 It is discribed like fissipedes, or birdes which have their feet or clawes divided. 1688 R. Holme Armoury ii. 309 2 Fissipedes, or having open Toes..[are] Aquatick Birds living much in Water. 1847 Craig, Fissiped. 1854 Encycl. Brit. VII. 542 The second subdivision, denominated Fissipedes, are destitute of pincers. |
Hence fiˈssipedal a., fiˈssipedate a. = fissiped a.
| 1883 W. H. Fowler in Encycl. Brit. XV. 434/1 The Fissipedal Carnivora were divided by Cuvier into two groups. 1884 Syd. Soc. Lex., Fissipedate. |