brachiation

bra·chi·ate  (brk-t, -t, brk-)

adj. Zoology

Having arms or armlike appendages.

intr.v. (-t) bra·chi·at·ed, bra·chi·at·ing, bra·chi·ates

To move by swinging with the arms from one hold to another, as certain apes do.

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[Latin brcchitus, from brcchium, arm. V., from New Latin brchire, brchit-, from brcchium; see brachium.]

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brachi·ation n.

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brachiation  (brk-shn, brk-)

Movement in which the suspended body swings by the arms from one hold to another, as in gibbons and arboreal primates. Adaptations used in brachiation, such as relatively long arms and a freely rotating shoulder joint, may have contributed to the development of bipedalism in protohumans.

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brachiation

a method of movement, characteristic of certain animals, by swinging with the arms from one hold to another.

See also: Animals

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

brachiation - swinging by the arms from branch to branch locomotion, travel - self-propelled movement