parietal
/pəˈɹaɪ.ə.təl/ adjective, noun
Forms parietals
- adjective (anatomy) Of or relating to the wall of a body part, organ or cavity. “Hydrochloric acid is secreted by the parietal cells of the gastric glands, located on the wall of the fundus of the stomach.”
- adjective (anatomy) Of or relating to the parietal bones.
- adjective Of or relating to college living and, especially, its regulation.
- adjective (botany) Attached to the main wall of the ovary, and not to the axis; said of a placenta.
- noun (anatomy) Either of the two parietal bones, on the top and side of the skull.
- noun Any of the scales of a snake that are located on the head and connected to the frontals towards the posterior.
- noun (archaeology) A flat Roman wall tile with roughened surface, used as a base for plasterwork.
- noun (informal) Dormitory rules governing visits from members of the opposite sex.
Etymology
From Latin parietālis, from pariēs (“wall”).
Webster’s 1913
- adjective Of or pertaining to a wall; hence, pertaining to buildings or the care of them.
- adjective Resident within the walls or buildings of a college.
- noun One of the parietal bones.
- noun One of the special scales, or plates, covering the back of the head in certain reptiles and fishes.
Etymology [L. parietalis, fr. paries, -ietis, a wall: cf. F. pariétal. Cf. Parietary, Pellitory.]
Sources: Wiktionary · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “parietal”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details