Coprocephalus
/ˌkɒp.rəˈkɛf.ə.ləs/noun
A zoological taxonomic genus name formed from Greek roots meaning dung and head.
Did you know?The name uses the same Greek root found in “coprolite,” while its second element belongs to the ancient root behind “capital,” “chapter,” and “chief.”
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*kaput-
“Head; the source of many later words connected with the head or chief position”
Ancient Greek
Greek
κεφαλή (kephalē)
“Head”
Ancient Greek
Greek
κόπρος (kopros)
“Dung or animal manure”
Scientific Latin
New Latin
Coprocephalus
“A taxonomic compound literally meaning “dung-head””
Modern English
English
Coprocephalus
“A zoological genus name used in biological classification”