preopercularn.adj.
/ˌpriːə(ʊ)ˈpəːkjᵿlə/, U.S. /ˌprioʊˈpərkjələr/ Ichthyology.
A. n.
= preoperculum n. 1.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > fish > parts of fish > [noun] > gill(s) or parts of
ginnle?c1475
gill vein1683
arista1691
radius1691
fish-ear1748
operculum1752
flap1803
opercle1808
subopercle1822
preoperculum1828
preopercule1842
preopercular1851
interoperculum1855
preoperclec1857
raker1903
1851 C. Girard Contrib. Nat. Hist. Fresh Water Fishes N. Amer. in Smithsonian Contrib. Knowl. (1852) 3 iii. i. 9 They are characterized by having many spines to the opercular apparatus; the preopercular itself having several of them always strongly developed.
1873 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 163 99 This curved, rod-shaped mucous bone is articulated below to a large falcate bone full of gland-burrows..; it is the ‘præopercular’.
1962 K. F. Lagler et al. Ichthyol. iii. 67 Dermal bones of the region are the paired preoperculars, operculars, suboperculars, interoperculars and branchiostegals, and the unpaired urohyal.
1994 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) B. 343 313/2 The preoperculars of Ichthyostega and Acanthostega occupy a more posterior position.
B. adj.
Of or relating to the preoperculum.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > fish > parts of fish > [adjective] > of bones
subopercular1834
supratemporal1834
urohyal1835
hyobranchial1848
preopercular1851
septomaxillary1868
amphicœlous1869
sphenotic1884
interhyal1885
tympanomalleal1891
1851 C. Girard Contrib. Nat. Hist. Fresh Water Fishes N. Amer. in Smithsonian Contrib. Knowl. (1852) 3 iii. ii. 16 The posterior one is placed obliquely across the cheek, from the preopercular spine to the orbit.
1903 Amer. Naturalist 37 503 Calliurichthys is proposed for the dragonets with spear-like preopercular spine.
1995 J. S. Ryland in P. J. Hayward & J. S. Ryland Handbk. Marine Fauna N.W. Europe xiv. 718 Preopercular bone with a free edge.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2007; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.adj.1851