First Known Use: 1830
Dictionary
pterodactyl
noun ptero·dac·tyl \ˌter-ə-ˈdak-təl\
: a large flying animal that lived long ago when dinosaurs were alive
Full Definition of PTERODACTYL
: any of various pterosaurs (suborder Pterodactyloidea) of the Late Jurassic and Cretaceous having a rudimentary tail and a beak with reduced dentition; broadly : pterosaur
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Origin of PTERODACTYL
New Latin Pterodactylus, genus of reptiles, from Greek pteron wing + daktylos finger — more at feather
Rhymes with PTERODACTYL
PTERODACTYL Defined for Kids
pterodactyl
noun ptero·dac·tyl \ˌter-ə-ˈdak-təl\
Definition of PTERODACTYL for Kids
: a very large extinct flying reptile that lived at the same time as the dinosaurs
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