1. (a.) Of or pertaining to cartilage; gristly; firm and tough like cartilage.

2. (a.) Having the skeleton in the state of cartilage, the bones containing little or no calcareous matter; said of certain fishes, as the sturgeon and the sharks.

cartilaginous cohesive coriaceous durable fibrous gristly hard hardy lasting leatherlike leathery resistant ropy sinewy stiff stringy strong stubborn tenacious tough tough as leather untiring vigorous viscid wiry