Ornithocopros
/ˌɔːr.nɪ.θoʊˈkɒp.rɒs/noun
A bird-dropping or something resembling bird droppings; also used as a scientific-style insult or mock-Latin term.
Did you know?It’s built from Greek ornithos- “bird” and kopros “dung,” the same brutal root behind coprolite, the fossilized excrement prized by paleontologists.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
ὄρνιθος + κόπρος
““of a bird” + “dung, excrement””
Hellenistic/Scientific Greek
Greek
ὀρνιθόκοπρος
“bird-dung; a compound formed from bird + dung”
Modern Scientific Latin
Latin
ornithocopros
“a Latinized scientific compound referring to bird droppings”
Modern English
English
ornithocopros
“a rare learned or pseudo-scientific term for bird droppings”
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