Branchial \Bran"chi*al\, a. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to branchi[ae] or gills. [1913 Webster]

Branchial arches, the bony or cartilaginous arches which support the gills on each side of the throat of fishes and amphibians. See Illustration in Appendix.

Branchial clefts, the openings between the branchial arches through which water passes. [1913 Webster]

Source: The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
 

Cleft \Cleft\, n. [OE. clift; cf. Sw. klyft cave, den, Icel. kluft cleft, Dan. kl["o]ft, G. kluft. See Cleave to split and cf. 2d Clift, 1st Clough.]

1. A space or opening made by splitting; a crack; a crevice; as, the cleft of a rock. --Is. ii. 21. [1913 Webster]

2. A piece made by splitting; as, a cleft of wood. [1913 Webster]

3. (Far.) A disease in horses; a crack on the band of the pastern. [1913 Webster]

Branchial clefts. See under Branchial.

Syn: Crack; crevice; fissure; chink; cranny. [1913 Webster]

Source: The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
 

Branchial \Bran"chi*al\, a. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to branchi[ae] or gills.

Branchial arches, the bony or cartilaginous arches which support the gills on each side of the throat of fishes and amphibians. See Illustration in Appendix.

Branchial clefts, the openings between the branchial arches through which water passes.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Cleft \Cleft\, n. [OE. clift; cf. Sw. klyft cave, den, Icel. kluft cleft, Dan. kl["o]ft, G. kluft. See Cleave to split and cf. 2d Clift, 1st Clough.]

1. A space or opening made by splitting; a crack; a crevice; as, the cleft of a rock. --Is. ii. 21.

2. A piece made by splitting; as, a cleft of wood.

3. (Far.) A disease in horses; a crack on the band of the pastern.

Branchial clefts. See under Branchial.

Syn: Crack; crevice; fissure; chink; cranny.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)