— prehensility /pree'hen sil"i tee/ , n.
/pri hen"sil, -suyl/ , adj.
1. adapted for seizing, grasping, or taking hold of something: a prehensile tail.
2. able to perceive quickly; having keen mental grasp.
3. greedy; grasping; avaricious.
[ 1781-85; préhensile (coined by Buffon), equiv. to L prehens ( us ) (see PREHENSION) + F -ile -ILE ]