Ichthyornis 
(1872) upon remains from the pterBiiodou beds, 
of Cretaceous age, in Kansas : so called from 
the resemblance of the vertebra? to those of 
fishes. After Archatopteryx, of Jurassic age, Ichtnyorni* 
and Hesperornis are the most notable genera in orni- 
thology; each furnishes a type of a primary* division of 
the class Avex, and they are collectively known as Odon- 
tornithc.s, or birds with teeth. Jchthyornin represents the 
family Jchthyomithidw and the order or subclass Odonto- 
torma>, or birds with socketed teeth and biconcave ver- 
tebrae, yet with developed wings, ankylosed metacarpals, 
carinate sternum, and snort coccyx, as in modern birds. /. 
dinpar, the leading species, was about as large as a pigeon. 
Several other species are also described. 
Ichthyornithes (ik-thi-6r'ni-thez), n. pL [NL., 
pi. of Ichthyornis.] Those birds in which the 
vertebra? are biconcave, as the Ichthyornitliiita: 
ichthyornithic(ik' l 'thi-6r-mth'ik),a. [As/c7i%- 
ornis (-nith-) + -ic.] Having the characters of 
birds together with certain characters of fishes ; 
specifically, having the characters of the Ichthy- 
ornithidte, especially biconcave vertebrae. 
Ichthyornithidae (ik"thi-6r-nith'i-de), n. pi. 
[NL., < Ichthyornis (-nith-) + -id<e.] A family 
of fossil birds of the order Odontotorma;, typified 
by the genus Ichthyornis, having biconcave ver- 
tebrae and socketed teeth. Also Ichthyornida: 
ichthyosarcolite (ik' / thi-o-sar'ko-lit), . [< Gr. 
ixBi'C, a fish, + o-apf (ad'pK-), flesh, + /tflof, a 
stone.] A fossil bivalve shell of the genus 
Caprinella, belonging to the family Hippuritida; 
(or Kudistaf). IJesmarest. 
ichthyosaur (ik'thi-o-sar), n. [< Ichthyosau- 
rus.^ A fish-like saurian ; a member of the or- 
der Ichthyosauria. 
Ichthyosauria (ik"thi-o-sa'ri-a), . pi. [NL.,< 
Ichthyosaurus. ] An order of'gigautic extinct 
marine fish-like , 
Reptilia, having 
somewhat the Jbut 
shape of a ceta- 
cean mammal, 
with an enor- 
mous head, no 
obvious neck, 
and a tapering 
body, with four 
paddle-like flip- 
pers, and prob- 
ably a fin-like 
expansion of 
the caudal re- 
gion. The verte- 
bra are very short, 
biconcave, and pe- 
culiar in other re- 
spects (see the ex- 
tract); the spinal 
column is without 
a sacrum, and is 
divisible only into 
caudal and pre- 
candal regions, the 
former being dis- 
tinguished by the 
presence of chev- 
ron-bones, the lat- 
ter by the presence 
of ribs which do 
not articulate with 
the sternum. The 
order is the same 
as the Ichthyop- 
terygift of Owen, 
but is named more 
conformably with 
some other orders 
of extinct reptiles. 
AlBoIchthyosaura, 
Ichthyosauri. 
The vertebne of Ichthyomuria in general have certain 
characters by which they differ from those of all other 
Vertebrata. Not only are the centra flattened disks, very 
much broader and higher than they are long, and deeply 
biconcave, . . . but the only transverse processes they 
possess are tubercles developed from the sides of these 
centra; and the neural arches are connected with two 
flat surfaces, one on each side of the middle line of the 
upper surface of the vertebne, by mere synchondroses. 
Huxley, Anat. Vert,, p. 210. 
ichthyosaurian (ik'thi-o-sa'ri-an), a. and . I. 
a. Pertaining to or having the characters of 
the Ichthyosauria; ichthyopterygian. Alsoic/i- 
tln/osauroid. 
ll. n. One of the Ichthyosauria or Ichthyop- 
teryqia; an ichthyosaur. 
Ichthyosauridse (ik'thi-o-sa/ri-de), n. pi. [< 
Ichthyosaurus + -irfte.] The ichthyosaurs as 
the typical family of Ichthyosauria. C. L. Bona- 
parte, 1831. 
ichthyosauroid (ik"thi-o-sa'roid), a. Same as 
irlithyosnuriaii. 
Ichthyosaurus (ik"thi-o-sa'rus), . [NL.,< Gr. 
ixM'f, a fish, + aaiipof, a lizard.] 1. The typical 
genus of Ichthyosaurida;. I. communis is one of 
the earliest- and best-known species. 2. [(. c. ; 
2970 
te ; So. squa- 
called " tem- 
Skull and Parts of the Skeleton of Ichthyo- 
saurus interntediiis. 
A. skull : Fr, yu, and La. frontal, jugal, 
and lacrymal Itones ; MX. maxilla ; Pmx, 
prcmaxilla; Prf, prefrontal; Pt, postfrontal ; 
Pto, postorbital ; A", nasal orifice. The fol- 
lowing bones are also shown : Pa. parietal ; 
Qj, quadratojugal ; QH, quadrate ; So. s 
mosal ; St. an anomalous bone 
poral " by Cuvier, suggested as a stapes (col- 
umella of ear) by Huxley, or separate opis- 
thotic. B, fore limb: H. humerus; K, radi- 
us; U, ulna; r, radiale; (.intermedium; n, 
ulnare ; Cp, 1,2,5,4. carpalia ; Me. i. ii, iii, 
iv, metacarpalia ; Ph. 1,2,3, 4. 5, phalanges; 
mr, ntu, radial and ulnar marginal ossicles. 
C, a dorsal vertebra : C, centrum ; ffjl, 
neural arch; ^.rib; VO, ventral ossifications. 
/>, hind limb: F. femur; Ft, fibula; T, 
tibia ; t, tibiate ; i, intennedium ; /, fibu- 
lare; Ts, tarsalia; Alt. metatarsalia ; Ph. 
phalanges ; mtb. tibial marginal ossicles. 
, pectoral arch, ventral aspect : Cl, clavi- 
cle ; Id, interclavicle ; Co, coracoid ; Sf, 
scapula. F, pelvic arch, ventral aspect : 
//, ilium ; Is, ischium ; Ph. pubis. 
Ichthyosaurus (restored). 
pi. ichthyosauri (-n).] A species of the genus 
Ichthyosaurus; an ichthyosaur. 
The skull of Ichthyonaurun is remarkable for the great 
elongation and tapering form of the snout, the huge or- 
bits, the great supra-temporal fossa;, and the closing over 
of the infra-temporal fossce by plates of bone. . . . The 
two rami of the mandible are united in a symphysis which, 
for length, is comparable to that observed in the modern 
Gavials and the ancient Teleosauria. 
Huxley, Auat. Vert, p. 210. 
ichthyosis (ik-thi-6'sis), n. [< Gr. ix6i't, a fish, 
+ -o*i.] In pathol., a congenital disease of 
the epidermis, in which it presents the form of 
hard dry scales and plates. Also called jisli- 
xlcin disease. 
ichthyotic (ik-thi-ot'ik), a. [< ichthyosis (-ot-) 
+ -c.] Pertaining to, characterized by, or 
affected with ichthyosis. 
The general health of ichthyotie subjects is usually 
good. Duhring, Skin Diseases, pi. >'. 
ichthyotomist (ik-thi-ot'o-mist), n. [< ichllii/- 
otomy + -int.'] An ichth'yological anatomist; 
a dissector of fishes. 
It is called hypoglossal nerve by some ichthyotomists. 
Owen, Anat., viii. 
ichthyotomy (ik-thi-ot'o-mi), n. [< Gr. ixOi't, 
fish, + TO//7, a cutting, < rf/iveiv, ra/teiv, cut.] 
The anatomy or dissection of fishes. Owen. 
ichthys (ik'this), n. [Gr. Itftf, IX6TS, lit. a 
fish^chosen as an emblem and motto because 
the order of its letters corresponds with the or- 
der of the initial letters of the words by which 
it is interpreted : 'It/aoif \piar6f, &eov Ti<if , 'Lurf/p, 
'Jesus Christ, Son of God, Saviour.'] A word 
found on many seals, rings, urns, tombstones, 
etc., belonging to the early period of Christian- 
ity, and supposed to have a mystical reference 
to the name and office of Jesus Christ. See the 
etymology. 
-ician. [F. -icien, < ML. -ici-dn-us: see -ic and 
-ia/i.] A compound termination of Latin origin, 
forming nouns from adjectives in -ic or nouns 
in -ic, -ics : as, geometrician, logician, mathemati- 
cian, physician, statistician, etc. 
Icica (is'i-ka), n. [NL., from the native name 
of the plant.] 1. A genus of plants, belonging 
to the natural order Burseracea;. By Bentham and 
Hooker the species of Icica are referred to the genus Bur- 
sera. The species are mostly large trees, natives of South 
America, some of them attaining a height of above 100 
feet. /. iiltimtima, the cedar-wood of Guiana, is preferred 
by the Indians for making canoes, on account not only of 
its great size, but of its durability. It is also esteemed by 
cabinet-makers as one of the beat woods for bookcases, its 
odor preserving the books from insects. /. heptaphylla 
is the Hyawa tree or incense-wood of Guiana. It yields a 
fragrant balsam. 
2. [I. c.] A transparent fluid resembling tur- 
pentine in many of its properties, yielded by 
some species of Icica. 
Icichthyinae (i-sik-thi-i'ne), n. pi. [NL., < 
Icichthys + -ina;.~\ A subfamily of Icosteida?, 
having the body covered with scales, and per- 
fect ventral fins having one spine and five soft 
rays. Icichthys, the only genus, is represent- 
ed by one species living in deep water off the 
Californian coast. 
icichthyine (i-sik'thi-in), n. A fish of the sub- 
family Icichthyinai. 
Icichtnys (i-sik'this), n. [NL., irreg. < Gr. il- 
KFIV, yield, give way (cf. AS. wicatt, give way: 
see weak), + i'xOif, fish.] The typical genus 
of Icichthyina;, with an imperfectly ossified or 
yielding skeleton. 
icicle (i'si-kl), n. [Early mod. K. also isicle, 
etc. ; \ ME. iseicl'te, isikel, isykle, yseket, iseyokel, 
imchel, iiseikkle, hysehykylle, etc., < AS. is-gicel 
(Leo) also ises (gen.) gicel (giccl), icicle, < is, 
ice, + gicel, mod. E. dial, icicle, an icicle: see 
ickle^. The word is thus a compound of ice + 
icklel. The latter element came to lose its in- 
dependent meaning, and has suffered under 
popular etymology: explained in books as a 
mere dim. termination -icle, as in article, parti- 
cle, etc., it appears transformed in the obs. or 
dial, forms ice-sickle, ise-sickle, ice-shackle, ice- 
shoggle, OSc. iceshogle, icechokill, etc. ; = LG. - 
jakel, ishekel, icicle. Cf. MD. ijskekel.J). ijskegel 
(Norw. iskegle), and simply MD. kekel, Keghel, 
D. Tcegel, icicle, merged in MD. keghel, D. kegel 
= Gr. kegel, a cone, uinepin, = Dan. kegle, skit- 
tle: see kaiP, keep. The E. dial, ice-caiidh; 
icicle, is an independent formation; so MD. 
ijsdroppe, ijsdroppel, 'ice-drop,' G. eiszapfen = 
icon 
Dan. istap, 'ice-peg' (see trip 1 ), etc.] 1. A pen- 
dent mass of ice tapering downward to a point, 
formed by the freezing of drops of water in- 
other liquid flowiiig down from the place of at- 
tachment. 
As men may se in wyntre 
Ysfkelftt in eueses thorw hete of the sonne 
Melteth in a mynut-while to myst and to watrc. 
Pii'rn l'loii;,,,ni (11), xiii. ->-n. 
Ohiacciuoli [It.], Ise-sicklcx, dropping ises. Florin. 
Whether the evedrops fall, 
Or if the secret ministry of frost 
Shall hang them up in silent /r/r/c.v. 
Coleridge, Frost at Midnight. 
2. In her., same as goutte or drop, but reversed, 
with the point downward. Compare yutte re- 
versed, under gutlr. 
icicled (i'si-kld), n. [Formerly also iscled; < 
icicle + -<P.] Covered with icicles: as, the 
icicled eaves. 
Bleak Winter is from Norway come, 
And such a formidable groom, 
With iscled beard and hoary head. 
Cotton, Winter. 
The bottom curve of that icicled S on your soda fmin- 
tain. Howell, Wedding Journey. 
icily (i'si-li), adv. K icy + -It/ 2 . ] In an icy muii- 
uer; coldly; frigidly. 
Faultily faultless, icily regular, splendidly null, 
Dead perfection, no more. Tennyson, Maud, ii. 
iciness (I'si-nes), . The state of being icy, or 
of being very cold. 
With the mercury almost down to freezing-point, and 
an atmosphere of moist icinegx, the body becomes be- 
numbed, and the mind sluggish. Science, XII. 299. 
icing (i'sing), . [Verbal n. of ice, v. ; = Icel. 
ising, sleet.] A coating of concreted sugar. 
Also called frosting and ice. 
The splendid icing of an immense . . . plum-cake. 
T. Warton, Hist. Eng. Poetry, III. 492. 
-icity. [F. -icite, etc., < L. -icita(t-)s : see -ic and 
-ity.'] A compound termination of nouns (in 
-ity) from adjectives in -ic (the c pronounced as 
s before i), as catholicity, domesticity, electricity, 
publicity, from catholic, domestic, electric, pub- 
lic, etc. Comparatively few of these formations are 
found in Latin; examples are lubricity (LL. lubricilae), 
mendicity (L. inendicitas), runticity (L. rwtticitas), etc. 
icker (ik'er), . [< ONorth. ehcr, tehher, the un- 
contr. form of AS. edr, ear: see ear 2 .] An ear 
of corn. [Scotch.] 
A daimen [occasional] icker in a thrave 
'S a sma' request. Burnt, To a Mouse. 
ickle 1 (ik'l), ii. [E. dial., also written iccle; < 
ME. ikel, ikyl, ickyll, yclc, ykle, ychele, yokle, igo- 
kelle (the last two forms after the Scand. ), < AS. 
gicel, an icicle, in comp. is-gicel, icicle, cyle-gicel, 
lit. 'chill-ickle,' hi'im-gicel, ' rime-ickle,' poet. 
Itildf-gicel, 'battle-ickle,' i. e. dripping blood; 
= LG. -jakel in comp. is-jakel = Icel. jokull, an 
icicle, also ice, a glacier, = Norw. jokul, jukul, 
jukel, an icicle, = Dan. egel, in hus-cgel (Aasen) ; 
dim. of a primitive lost in AS., = Icel. jaki, a 
piece of ice, prob. = Ir. aigh = Gael, cigh = W. 
ia (for *iag), ice. In comp. ice-ickle, written 
icicle: see icicle, where the variations of ickle 
under popular etymology are mentioned.] An 
icicle. [Prov. Eng.] 
ickle 2 (ik'l), n. Same as hickwall. [Northamp- 
tonshire, Eng.] 
icomet, icoment. Middle English forms of the 
past participle of come. 
icon (I'kon), n. ; pi. icones and icons (i'ko-nez, 
i'konz). [< L. icon, < Gr. C'IKUV, a likeness, linage, 
portrait, similitude, semblance, phantom, < *- 
KCIV, found only in perf . iud. eowa, etc., be or look 
like, seem likely, seem fitting.] 1. An image 
or representation ; a portrait. 
Some of our own nation, and many Netherlanders, whose 
names and icons are published, have deserved good com- 
mendation. HakfwiU, Apology. 
Glory was his aim, and he [a dog) attained it ; for his 
icon, by the hand of Caldecott, now lies among the trea- 
sures of the nation. R. L. Stevenson, Character of Dogs. 
2. In the Greek or Orthodox Eastern Church, a 
representation of Christ, an angel, or a saint, in 
painting, relief, mosaic, etc. There are always two 
at least in a Greek church, one of Christ at the right of 
the holy doors, as one faces toward the bema, and one of 
the Theotocos on the left. In accordance with the de- 
cision of the seventh ecumenical council (the second of 
Nictea, A. D. 767), icons are honored with a relative worship 
or adoration (irpoo-* vVnais), manifested by kissing, off erings 
of incense and lights, etc., but not with latria, or the su- 
preme worship due to God alone. They are regarded as 
sacred, and many are believed to be miraculous. A smalt 
icon, of the kind generally carried by the Russian peasant- 
ry, is a triptych, diptych, or simila.r folding tablet, of wood 
or metal, decorated in enamel or niello with representa- 
tions of sacred subjects. Also eilton, ikon. 
