pterosaur
noun
ptero·saur ˈter-ə-ˌsȯr 
: any of an order (Pterosauria) of extinct flying reptiles existing from the Late Triassic throughout the Jurassic and most of the Cretaceous and having a featherless wing membrane extending from the side of the body along the arm to the end of the greatly elongated fourth digit
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Analyzing these structures let the researchers determine how the pterosaur could have used them to take off. 
Riley Black, Scientific American, 20 July 2022 Ever since pterosaur fossils were discovered more than two centuries ago, paleontologists have wondered how these gawky-looking reptiles launched themselves into the air. Riley Black, Scientific American, 20 July 2022 Scientists unearthed partial remains of a colossal pterosaur, called Thanatosdrakon amaru, that's new to science, according to research published in the journal Cretaceous Research. Megan Marples, CNN, 29 May 2022 The pterosaur, also known as Thanatosdrakon amaru, is believed to have predated birds as the first creatures with wings to ever hunt their prey. Scott Gleeson, USA TODAY, 24 May 2022 But pterosaurs had different proportions and would have behaved differently, says University of Edinburgh pterosaur researcher Natalia Jagielska, who was not involved in the new study. Riley Black, Scientific American, 20 July 2022 Enlarge / Skeleton and associated soft tissues of the aurorazhdarchid pterosaur fossil. Jeanne Timmons, Ars Technica, 4 July 2022 The team also classified the pterosaur fossil as the biggest to be discovered in South America and one of the largest in the world. Scott Gleeson, USA TODAY, 24 May 2022 Other cool finds from the site include a fossilized pterosaur egg, the first found in North America. Katie Hunt, CNN, 11 May 2022 See More
Riley Black, Scientific American, 20 July 2022 Ever since pterosaur fossils were discovered more than two centuries ago, paleontologists have wondered how these gawky-looking reptiles launched themselves into the air. Riley Black, Scientific American, 20 July 2022 Scientists unearthed partial remains of a colossal pterosaur, called Thanatosdrakon amaru, that's new to science, according to research published in the journal Cretaceous Research. Megan Marples, CNN, 29 May 2022 The pterosaur, also known as Thanatosdrakon amaru, is believed to have predated birds as the first creatures with wings to ever hunt their prey. Scott Gleeson, USA TODAY, 24 May 2022 But pterosaurs had different proportions and would have behaved differently, says University of Edinburgh pterosaur researcher Natalia Jagielska, who was not involved in the new study. Riley Black, Scientific American, 20 July 2022 Enlarge / Skeleton and associated soft tissues of the aurorazhdarchid pterosaur fossil. Jeanne Timmons, Ars Technica, 4 July 2022 The team also classified the pterosaur fossil as the biggest to be discovered in South America and one of the largest in the world. Scott Gleeson, USA TODAY, 24 May 2022 Other cool finds from the site include a fossilized pterosaur egg, the first found in North America. Katie Hunt, CNN, 11 May 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
New Latin Pterosauria, from Greek pteron wing + sauros lizard
First Known Use
1863, in the meaning defined above