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xiph(o)-

Also xiphi‑.

Sword; sword-shaped.

Greek xiphos, sword.

The xiphoid process or xiphoid cartilage is the cartilaginous section at the lower end of the breastbone, also known as the xiphisternum, which is not attached to any ribs, and gradually ossifies during adult life. Xiphias is the genus containing the swordfish; Xiphosura (Greek oura, tail, so literally ‘sword-tail’), is the sub-class of the horseshoe crabs, for which the related adjective is xiphosuran.

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