Definition of "clinal"

‘Strange,’ Enderby said. ‘Here we both are, in a clinal situation so to speak, a bed context I mean, the Greek word means to lean or repose I suppose, hence bed, hence clinic by the way, and this has nothing to do with my feverish imaginings.’

1984, Anthony Burgess, Enderby's Dark Lady

Clinal variation in the size of the secondary sexual character may be due to the effects of the Fisher or the handicap process.

1994, Anders P Moller, Sexual Selection and the Barn Swallow, Oxford, published 2000, page 299