pterodactyl

[ ter-uh-dak-til ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

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.

pterodactyl

/ ˌtɛrəˈdæktɪl /

any extinct flying reptile of the genus Pterodactylus and related genera, having membranous wings supported on an elongated fourth digit See also pterosaur

pterodactyl

/ tĕr′ə-dăk′təl /

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.

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

C19: from ptero- + Greek daktulos finger

How does pterodactyl compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

I ponder the selection (pterodactyl, triceratops, etc) before settling on a T-Rex.

At the bar, you can order $5 ptero-daiquiri shots—a sign advertises them with a cartoon pterodactyl and a “Rawwr!!!”

Before they could get any more bright ideas, I threw the switch and my plastic pterodactyl sailed in through the door.

You can't say too much for the picturesqueness of the pterodactyl—he was the triumph of his period.

Over the waters flew another bird-like, fish-like, bat-like thing called the Pterodactyl.

Twice in succession he refused a second help of pterodactyl at the tribal luncheon table.

He looks like an intoxicated pterodactyl,” said Mr. Lonergan, who had some knowledge of prehistoric animals,—“only hairier.

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