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pterodactyl

pter·o·dac·tyl [ tèrrə dákt'l ] (plural pter·o·dac·tyls)


noun 
Definition:
 
extinct flying reptile: an extinct flying reptile pterosaur of the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods with membranous wings and a rudimentary tail and beak. Genus Pterodactylus.

[Early 19th century. < modern Latin Pterodactylus< Greek pteron "wing" + daktulos "finger"]
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