Grallic

/ˈɡrælɪk/ adjective

Definition

Relating to or resembling stilts; characteristic of long-legged wading birds or their manner of walking.

Etymology

From Latin 'grallae' (stilts) + '-ic' (adjective suffix). This shorter, simpler Latinate adjective offered another option for describing wading bird characteristics in scientific contexts.

Kelly Says

The variety of adjective forms—grallic, grallatory, grallatorial—shows how Renaissance scientists were still experimenting with how to create a consistent technical vocabulary for biology.

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