pterodactylic

pter·o·dac·tyl

[ter-uh-dak-til]
noun
any of a number of genera of flying reptiles of the extinct order Pterosauria, from the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods, having a highly reduced tail and teeth and a birdlike beak.

Origin:
1820–30; < Neo-Latin Pterodactylus genus name, equivalent to Greek pteró(n) wing + -daktylos -dactylous

pter·o·dac·tyl·ic, pter·o·dac·tyl·ous, adjective
pter·o·dac·tyl·id, adjective, noun
pter·o·dac·tyl·oid, adjective
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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World English Dictionary
pterodactyl (ˌtɛrəˈdæktɪl) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
n
See also pterosaur any extinct flying reptile of the genus Pterodactylus and related genera, having membranous wings supported on an elongated fourth digit
 
[C19: from ptero- + Greek daktulos finger]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
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00:10
Pterodactylic is always a great word to know.
So is callithumpian. Does it mean:
a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes.
a screen or mat covered with a dark material for shielding a camera lens from excess light or glare.
Etymonline
Word Origin & History

pterodactyl
1830, from Fr. ptérodactyle (1821), from the Mod.L. genus name, from Gk. pteron "wing" (from PIE base *pet- "fly;" see petition) + daktylos "finger" (see dactyl).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Science Dictionary
pterodactyl   (těr'ə-dāk'təl)  Pronunciation Key 


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Any of various small, extinct flying reptiles (pterosaurs) of the genus Pterodactylus of the late Jurassic and Cretaceous Periods. Pterodactyls had long, narrow jaws with sharp teeth, and a wingspan of 1 m (3.3 ft) or less.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
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