1940 W. H. Sheldon Varieties of Human Physique i. 7 The patterning of the morphological components, as expressed by the three numerals, is called the somatotype of the individual. After examining..4,000 physiques we were able to describe..76 different somatotypes.

1944 A. Huxley Let. 19 July (1969) 508 From these a good draughtsman could turn out true representations of the various somatotypes.

1971 Nature 12 Mar. 113/2 An analysis of the somatotype data showed that there was a tendency for the twelve individuals to fall into two groups: a mesomorphic group (seven cases—wide heavy—typical somatotype 4,5,2) and an ectomorphic group (five cases—tall thin—typical somatotype 3,2,6).

1978 G. A. Sheehan Running & Being ii. 28 I dug into his [sc. Sheldon's] Atlas of Men and there I was. Somatotype 235... The number 235 is somatotype shorthand for little or no fat (2); a moderate amount of muscle (3); and a predominance of skin, hair, nervous tissue and thin bones (5). (The limts being one to seven).

1940 W. H. Sheldon Varieties of Human Physique vii. 220 400 northern Negroes whom we have photographed and somatotyped.

1951 W. H. Auden Nones (1952) 47 Lovers of big numbers go horribly mad, Would have..all of us Well purged, somatotyped, baptised, taught baseball.

1954 W. H. Sheldon Atlas of Men 16/2 By the time I had somatotyped the 12,000 men who made up this total series the foundations were well laid.

1940 W. H. Sheldon Varieties of Human Physique i. 8 The criteria and the procedure for somatotyping..provide a practicable, objective method for segregating and classifying the varieties of human physique.

1959 A. Huxley Let. 15 Oct. (1969) 880 Have you found in your hospital work that somatotyping along Sheldonian lines has helped?

1978 Nature 12 Jan. 193/1 Sheldon is the man who invented somatotyping—a classification of variations in human body structure, to which he related variations in temperament, in physical and mental illness, and in patterns of growth and aging.