compsognathus

[ komp-sog-nuh-thuhs ]

/ kɒmpˈsɒg nə θəs /

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noun

any bipedal carnivorous dinosaur of the genus Compsognathus, of late Jurassic age, having a slender body that reached a length of 30 inches (76 centimeters).

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Origin of compsognathus

From New Latin (1859), from Greek kompsó(s) “elegant” + -gnathos “jawed”; see -gnathous

Words nearby compsognathus

compromise, compromised, compromise joint, Compromise of 1850, compromise rail, compsognathus, compt, compte rendu, comp time, Comptometer, Compton

How to use compsognathus in a sentence

As Compsognathus walked upon its hind legs, it must have made tracks like those of birds.
Lectures on Evolution|Thomas Henry Huxley