Bran`chi*os"te*gal (?), a. [Gr. gill + to cover: cf. F. branchiostege.] Anat.
Pertaining to the membrane covering the gills of fishes.
-- n. Anat.
A branchiostegal ray. See Illustration of Branchial arches in Appendix.
⇒ This term was formerly applied to a group of fishes having boneless branchiae. But the arrangement was artificial, and has been rejected.
© Webster 1913.