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<zoology> An order of fishes generally having the maxillary bone united with the premaxillary, and the articular united with the dentary.
The upper jaw is immovably joined to the skull; the ventral fins are rudimentary or wanting; and the body is covered with bony plates, spines, or small rough ossicles, like shagreen. The order includes the diodons, filefishes, globefishes, and trunkfishes.
Origin: NL, from Gr. Twisted (fr. To plait, twist) + jaw.
(01 Mar 1998)
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