Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • In zoology: In Cuvier's system of classification, the third family of Malacopterygii subbrachiati, having the ventrals formed into a disk or sucker, as in the lump-fish, Cyclopterus lumpus.
  • In Günther's system, a family of Acanthop-terygii gobiiformes, having at most two anal spines, and ventral fins entirely modified into a perfect disk adherent to the body. It comprises the Cyclopteridæ, Liparididæ, and Gobiesocidæ.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun Plural form of discobolus.

Etymologies

Sorry, no etymologies found.

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word discoboli.

Examples

  • In Sargent's women there is no wholesome tendency to loafing, no ease of manner, no sense of physical bien-etre: rather they stand, or sit -- in the latter case on the edge of their chairs -- like discoboli, waiting for a signal to whirl and hurl anything -- anywhere -- direction being unimportant, the sibylline contortion everything.

    The Novels of Mrs. Wharton 1906

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.