apatosaurus
noun
Note: Apatosauruses were first identified as being of a separate genus (Brontosaurus) and continue to be commonly called brontosauruses or brontosaurs based on this earlier and now invalid classification.
Example Sentences
Jordan Culver, USA TODAY, 22 May 2020 The resulting film is a sixth-grade sketchbook mash of dino-murder, cartoonish villains, and plot holes big enough for an apatosaurus to fit through. Sam Machkovech, Ars Technica, 22 June 2018 There were stegosauruses, apatosauruses, a T-rex, but the parasaurolophus, in all its weird glory, was always my favorite. Katherine Clover, The Cut, 15 Feb. 2018 Kids can also meet a baby apatosaurus, take an exciting spin in the Jurassic Jeeps and play in themed bounce houses, dig for fossils, do crafts, enjoy face-painting and more. Oc Disney Staff, Orange County Register, 1 Apr. 2017 Word History
borrowed from New Latin, genus name, from Greek apátē "deceit" (perhaps of substratal origin) + New Latin -o- -o- + -saurus -saurus
Note: The genus name Apatosaurus was introduced by the American paleontologist Othniel Charles Marsh (1831-99) in "Notice of New Dinosaurian Reptiles from the Jurassic formation," American Journal of Science and Arts, 3rd series, vol. 14, no. 74 (December, 1877), pp. 514-16. As with other genera he named, Marsh gives no explanation of the taxon's components. Presumably it was inspired by the distinct chevron bones of Apatosaurus relative to those of other dinosaurs ("The chevron bones differ from those of most known Dinosaurs in having the superior articular ends of the rami not united, but separated from each other, as in the Mososauria with free hæmapophyses.").
1878, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
apatosaurus
noun