First Known Use: 1859
Dictionary
archaeopteryx
noun ar·chae·op·ter·yx \ˌär-kē-ˈäp-tə-riks\
Definition of ARCHAEOPTERYX
: a primitive crow-sized bird (genus Archaeopteryx) of the Upper Jurassic period of Europe having reptilian characteristics (as teeth and a long bony tail)
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Origin of ARCHAEOPTERYX
New Latin, from archae- + Greek pteryx wing; akin to Greek pteron wing — more at feather
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