1. Plural of dactyl; metrical feet in poetry, each consisting of one long syllable followed by two short syllables (— ∪ ∪).
Usage: technical; prosody
2. Plural of dactyl; fingers or toes, especially in anatomical or zoological contexts.
Usage: technical; anatomy

Examples

• The poem's meter relies heavily on dactyli, creating a rhythmic, falling pattern.
• In dactylic hexameter, six dactyli form the basis of classical Latin verse.
• The bird's dactyli are adapted for gripping branches.
• Dactyli appear frequently in English poetry, though less common than iambic feet.
• The fossil showed well-preserved dactyli on the creature's forelimbs.