Where does “pterosaur” come from?

pterosaur (English) comes from English ptero-, from Ancient Greek πτερόν, from Proto-Indo-European péth₂r̥, from Proto-Indo-European peth₂- — to spread out; to fly.

pterosaur (English): Any of several flying reptiles, of the extinct...

Definitions

  1. Any of several flying reptiles, of the extinct...

Ancestry of “pterosaur”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishptero-wing or feather
2Ancient Greekπτερόνfeather; wing; Any winged creature
3Proto-Indo-Europeanpéth₂r̥wing; feather
4Proto-Indo-Europeanpeth₂-to spread out; to fly

Words derived from “pterosaur”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European peth₂- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European péth₂r̥ →Every word from Ancient Greek πτερόν →