any of the large stiff feathers of a bird's tail, used in controlling the direction of flight
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
rec•trix
(rek′triks),USA pronunciation n., pl. rec•tri•ces (rek trī′sēz, rek′trə sēz′).USA pronunciation [Ornith.]
rec•tri•cial
(rek trish′əl),USA pronunciation adj.
- Birdsone of the tail feathers of a bird controlling direction during flight.
- Latin rēctrīx, feminine of rēctor rector
- 1605–15;
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