ornithosaurn.
/ˈɔːnᵻθəsɔː/, /ɔːˈnɪθəsɔː/, U.S. /ˈɔrnəθoʊˌsɔr/, /ɔrˈnɪθoʊˌsɔr/ Palaeontology. Now rare.
An extinct reptile of the former order Ornithosauria; a pterosaur.
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the world > animals > reptiles > extinct reptiles and dinosaurs > [noun] > Sauria > member of order Pterosauria
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1875 J. W. Dawson Nature & Bible 238 Belemnites, Dinosaurs, Ornithosaurs, and other Reptiles.
1913 Q. Jrnl. Geol. Soc. 69 372 An Ornithosaur from the Wealden Shales of Atherfield (Isle of Wight).
1944 Sci. Monthly Aug. 120/2 The pterosaurs..were, as their name indicates, winged lizards. They are also sometimes called ornithosaurs..or bird-lizards, because they could soar like birds.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2004; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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