gingival, a.
(dʒɪnˈdʒaɪvəl)
[ad. mod.L. gingīvāl-is, f. L. gingīva gum: see -al1. Cf. F. gingival.]
1. Of or pertaining to the gums. gingival line: ‘the red line at the free edge of the gums seen in phthisical persons’ (Syd. Soc. Lex. 1885).
| 1669 Holder Elem. Speech 71 P. and B. are Labial..T. and D. are Gingival. Ibid. 78 The Italians..make the Occluse Appulse, especially the Gingival, softer than we do. 1720 Hale in Phil. Trans. XXXI. 8 From the Buccal, Labial, and Gingival Glands, the Saliva flows from all parts of the Mouth without the Teeth. 1872 Cohen Dis. Throat 139 The tumor began at 14 years of age, following the spontaneous opening of a gingival abscess. 1875 Huxley in Encycl. Brit. I. 762/2 The gingival surfaces of the premaxillæ and of the dentary elements of the mandible. |
2. quasi-n. (See quot.)
| 1874 W. Wright Arabic Gram. i. (1896) 4 The gingivals, in uttering which the tongue is pressed against the gums. |