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noun, masculine

ptérodactyle

/pte.ʁɔ.dak.til/

noun, masculine/pte.ʁɔ.dak.til/plural: ptérodactyles

pterodactyl (extinct flying reptile)

Coined by French naturalist, zoologist and paleontologist Georges Cuvier in 1809 in the misspelt form petro-dactyle from the Ancient Greek πτερόν (pterón, “wing”) + δάκτυλος (dáktulos, “finger”). Also ptéro- + -dactyle.