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crossopterygian. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
crossopterygian, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
crossopterygian in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
crossopterygian you have here. The definition of the word
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English
Etymology
From Crossopterygia + -an, Greek krossoí “tassels, fringe” + -o- + pterýgion “little wing or fin,” equivalent to pteryg- (stem of pterýx ) “wing, fin” + -ion + -an.
Adjective
crossopterygian (not comparable)
- (zoology) Of or pertaining to the Crossopterygii, an infraclass of bony fish.
2000, Richard Fortey, “No Such Thing as a Fish”, in London Review of Books, volume 22, number 13:One consequence was that the crossopterygian fishes (distantly related to the famous ‘living fossil’ coelacanth Latimeria) were dethroned from their privileged position as ancestors.
Noun
crossopterygian (plural crossopterygians)
- (zoology) One of the Crossopterygii.