Tyrannosaur
/tɪˈrænəˌsɔːr/noun
A dinosaur belonging to the tyrannosaur family, especially a tyrannosaurus.
Did you know?The name was coined in 1905 by American paleontologist Henry Fairfield Osborn from Greek tyrannos, “tyrant,” and sauros, “lizard.”
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
τύραννος (tyrannos)
“An absolute ruler or tyrant; the word may have a pre-Greek, non-Indo-European origin.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
σαῦρος (sauros)
“Lizard or reptile.”
19th Century
Scientific Latin
Tyrannosaurus
““Tyrant lizard,” the genus name later established for the famous giant predator.”
1905
Scientific English
tyrannosaur
“A shortened English form referring to a member of the tyrannosaur group.”
Modern English
English
tyrannosaur
“A large meat-eating theropod dinosaur of the tyrannosaur family.”