a. and sb. Anat. [ad. mod.L. stylohyoid-eus (see below), f. STYLO- + hyoideus (see HYOIDEAN and HYOID).] a. adj. Of or pertaining to the stylohyal and the hyoid bone. b. sb. The stylohyoid muscle or stylohyoideus, a muscle connecting the styloid process and the hyoid bone.
[1710. J. Harris, Lex. Techn., II. Stylo-Hyoideus, is a Muscle of the Os-Hyoides, arising from near the middle of the Processus Styliformis.]
1840. E. Wilson, Anat. Vade M., 377. The stylo-hyoid branch [of the facial nerve] is distributed to the stylo-hyoid muscle.
1873. G. Fleming, trans. Chauveaus Comp. Anat. Dom. Anim., 722. The stylo-hyoid nerve.
1897. Proc. Zool. Soc., 377. The typical carnivorous stylo-hyoid seems to consist of two parts, superficial and deep.
Hence Stylohyoidean a. = prec. (Cf. F. stylohyoïdien.)
1891. Century Dict.
1898. Syd. Soc. Lex.