Less correctly fisso-, used as combining form of L. fissus, pa. pple. of findĕre to split, employed in Biol., Phys., Zool., in terms formed chiefly on the analogy of late L. fissipēs (see FISSIPED) to indicate the condition of being cleft. Fissicostate a. [L. costa rib: see COSTATE], having the nervures or ribs divided (Syd. Soc. Lex.). Fissidactyl, -yle a. [Gr. δάκτυλ-ος finger], having the digits divided. Fissigemmation, a mode of reproduction intermediate between fission and gemmation. Fissilingual a. [L. lingua tongue + -AL], having the tongue cleft; said of a suborder of saurian reptiles, hence called Fissilinguia. Fissipalmate a. [see PALMATE], partially web-footed; semipalmate. Hence Fissipalmation, partial palmation, or incomplete webbing of the toes. Fissiparturition, the action of giving birth to young by fission (in quot. transf.). Fissirostral a. [L. rostr-um + -AL], having a deeply cleft beak; belonging to the order of birds thence called Fissirostres. Fissirostrate a. [as prec. + -ATE2] = prec.
1835–6. R. B. Todd, The Cyclopædia of Anatomy and Physiology, I. 268/1. Families of the Fissirostral tribe.
1856–8. W. Clark, Van der Hoeven’s Zool., II. 377. Natatores.—Feet moderate or short, placed more or less behind (averse), palmate or fisso-palmate.
1882. O. Fisher, in Nature, XXV. 12 Jan., 243/2. The act of fissiparturition by which the moon was born must have been sudden.
