a. and sb. Zool. Also erron. ziphoid. [f. mod.L. Ziphius (Cuvier, 1834), erron. form for Xiphius, ad. Gr. ξίφιος, var. form of ξιφίας swordfish, XIPHIAS; see -OID.] a. adj. Resembling or allied to the genus Ziphius of whales; belonging to or having the characters of the family Ziphiidæ. b. sb. A ziphioid whale. Also Ziphian; so Ziphiiform a., having the form of a whale of this genus.
1870. Flower, Osteol. Mamm., iv. 40. In Hyperoodon, and most of the other Ziphioids, the whole of the cervical vertebræ are ankylosed together.
1870. Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist., Ser. IV. VI. 348. A Ziphioid Whale, probably Berardius Arnuxii.
1876. Tomes, Dental Anat., iii. 56. The Micropteron, a ziphoid Cetacean. Ibid., ix. 288. The Cetaceans classed together as Ziphoids have no teeth in the upper jaw.
1896. R. J. Anderson, Whales & Dolph., II. 13. In Ziphians the ribs are ten. Ibid., 14. In Sternum of the Ziphian kind A hole at middle, you will find.
