raptorial

[rap-tawr-ee-uhl, -tohr-]

adjective

1. preying upon other animals; predatory.

2. adapted for seizing prey, as the bill or claws of a bird.

3. belonging or pertaining to the Raptores, a former order in which the falconiform and strigiform birds were erroneously grouped together.

raptorial

/ ræpˈtɔːrɪəl /

adjective

1. (of the feet of birds) adapted for seizing prey

2. (esp of birds) feeding on prey; predatory

3. of or relating to birds of prey

Word History and Origins

Origin of raptorial¹

1815–25; < Latin raptōr- (stem of raptor raptor ) + -ial

Word History and Origins

Origin of raptorial¹

C19: from Latin raptor a robber, from rapere to snatch

Example Sentences

The team also examined owl and raptorial predators however while the effects were the same, they were not as evident.

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In either case, we clearly have underestimated the abilities of those big, beady, raptorial eyes.

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But its body size and structure also suggest that the Coronodon wasn’t very good at this so-called raptorial feeding.

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Thirty-three out of 34 of these contests escalated to striking with the raptorial appendages.

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They have two abdominal appendages that allow them to suspend their bodies below the water’s surface, a hardy beak for invading the bodies of prey, and large raptorial legs covered in spines.

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Related Words

• greedy 
• marauding 
• rapacious 
• voracious