pteranodon

[tuh-ran-uh-don]

noun

a flying reptile of the extinct order Pterosauria, from the Cretaceous Period, having a wingspread of about 25 feet (8 meters).

Origin of pteranodon

< New Latin, equivalent to pter- pter- + Greek anódōn toothless (see an-¹, -odont)

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for pteranodon

Historical Examples of pteranodon

"Or the death-bird, the pteranodon," returned Professor Bavenden quietly.
The Flying Death
Samuel Hopkins Adams
Whispers of the professor's pteranodon theory had passed about.
The Flying Death
Samuel Hopkins Adams
The pteranodon rose, sounding its raucous croak as if in mockery.
The Flying Death
Samuel Hopkins Adams
At last, the pteranodon spread its huge brown pinions and took off.
Astounding Stories, March, 1931
Various
However, I am merely defending the pteranodon's survival as an interesting possibility.
The Flying Death
Samuel Hopkins Adams

pteranodon in Science

pteranodon

[tə-răn′ə-dŏn′]

Any of several very large, extinct flying reptiles (pterosaurs) of the genus Pteranodon of the Cretaceous Period. Pteranodon had a long pointed crest on its head, no teeth, a very short tail, and a wingspan upwards of 9 m (30 ft).