Ornithischian
/ˌɔːr.nɪˈθɪs.ki.ən/noun
A member of a major group of herbivorous dinosaurs characterized by a pelvis superficially similar to that of birds.
Did you know?The name was coined in the 19th century from Greek roots meaning “bird” and “hip,” so an entire dinosaur branch was literally labeled by the shape of its bones.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
ornithos
“bird”
Ancient Greek
Greek
ischion
“hip joint; hip bone”
Late 19th Century
English
Ornithischia
“a taxonomic name for the bird-hipped dinosaurs”
Modern English
English
ornithischian
“relating to or belonging to the bird-hipped dinosaurs”
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