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Webster 1913 Edition
Malacopterygii
‖
Malˊa-copˊte-ryg′i-i
,p
rop.
Noun.
pl.
[NL., fr. Gr.
μαλακόσ
soft + πτέρυξ
wing, fin, fr. πτερόν
feather.] (Zool.)
An order of fishes in which the fin rays, except the anterior ray of the pectoral and dorsal fins, are closely jointed, and not spiny. It includes the carp, pike, salmon, shad, etc. Called also
Malacopteri
.