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la·tis·si·mus dor·si

(lə-tĭsə-məs dôrsī)

n. pl. la·tis·si·mi dorsi (-mī′)

Either of two broad, flat, triangular muscles with origin from the spinous processes of the lower thoracic and lumbar vertebrae, the sacrum, and the iliac crest, that insert into the humerus and whose action adducts, medially rotates, and extends the arm.

[New Latin lātissimus dorsī : Latin lātissimus, superlative of lātus, wide + Latin dorsī, genitive of dorsum, back.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

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Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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