a. Ornith. [ad. mod.L. crissālis (used by Vigors, Ornithol. of Capt. Beechy’s Voy., 19, in specific name of a Finch), f. crissum: see below. Used chiefly in U.S.]
1. Pertaining to the crissum, as the crissal region.
2. Characterized by the coloring of the under tail-coverts, as Crissal thrush or thrasher, the Red-vented Thrush or Thrasher.
1872. Coues, Key to N. Amer. Birds, 75. Crissal Thrasher.
