crossopterygian

noun

cros·sop·ter·yg·ian ˌkrȯ-ˌsäp-tə-ˈri-j(ē-)ən

: any of a subclass (Crossopterygii) of bony fishes (such as a coelacanth) that have paired fins suggesting limbs, that may be ancestral to the terrestrial vertebrates, and that are mostly extinct

called also lobe-fin

crossopterygian adjective

Word History

Etymology

New Latin Crossopterygii, subclass name, from Greek krossoi fringe + pterygion, diminutive of pteryg-, pteryx wing, fin; akin to Greek pteron wing — more at feather

First Known Use

1861, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of crossopterygian was in 1861

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Crossopterygian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crossopterygian. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.

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