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Definition of dactyl : 1. A finger or toe; a digit.
2. A poetical foot of three sylables (- ~ ~), one long followed by two short, or one accented followed by two unaccented; as, L. tegmn, E. mer 6ciful; - so called from the similarity of its arrangement to that of the joints of a finger.
3. The claw or terminal joint of a leg of an insect or crustacean.

Synonyms:

finger, fingerbreadth, digit, finger's breadth, figure

Usage examples:

• But nearly all English poetry is based upon the four feet,- iambus, trochee, dactyl, and anapest,- first given. - "Elementary Guide to Literary Criticism", F. V. N. Painter.
• 61. " The Dactyl, rolls round, expresses beautifully the majesty of the sun in his course." - "The Grammar of English Grammars", Goold Brown.
• 24. What is a Dactyl? - "The Grammar of English Grammars", Goold Brown.