malacopterygii Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun an extensive group of teleost fishes having fins supported by flexible cartilaginous rays
    superorder Malacopterygii.

WordNet

Mal`a*cop`te*ryg"i*i noun plural
Etymology
NL., fr. Gr. soft + wing, fin, fr. feather.
Definitions
  1. (Zoöl.) An order of fishes in which the fin rays, except the anterior ray of the pectoral and dorsal fins, are closely jointed, and not spiny. It includes the carp, pike, salmon, shad, etc. Called also Malacopteri.

Webster 1913