Apterous
/ˈæp.tər.əs/noun
Lacking wings or winglike structures.
Did you know?Apterous comes from Greek a- (“without”) + pteron (“wing”), the same wing-root behind words tied to flight, feathers, and even the dream of transcendence.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*pter-
“wing, feather”
Ancient Greek
GRK
pteron
“wing, feather”
Ancient Greek
GRK
apteros
“wingless”
Late Latin
LAT
apterus
“wingless”
16th Century
English
apterous
“having no wings”
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