a. Zool. [ad. Gr. κτενοειδής comb-shaped: see -OID.]
1. Resembling a comb; having marginal projections like the teeth of a comb; pectinate; applied to the scales and teeth of certain fishes.
1872. H. A. Nicholson, Palæont., 307. Ctenoid scales consisting of thin horny plates, but having their posterior margins fringed with spines, or cut into comb-like projections.
2. Belonging to the Ctenoidei, an order of fishes in Agassizs classification, containing those with ctenoid scales. Also as sb. A ctenoid fish. (Now disused.)
1847. Ansted, Anc. World, x. 246. Two orders of Fishes the Ctenoids and Cycloids.
1851. Richardson, Geol., viii. 285. Four fifths of the fishes now living belong to the cycloid and ctenoid orders.
Hence Ctenoidean a. and sb. = CTENOID 2.
1837. W. Buckland, Geol., I. 270. The Ctenoïdians have their scales jagged or pectinated, like the teeth of a comb.