diatryma

D2I1A1T1R1Y4M3A1

noun

A big-beaked prehistoric bird in the genus Gastornis, larger than the ostrich, believed to have become extinct 15- to 25-million years ago due to a vast climate change.

OriginAncient Greek διατρήμα →
Scrabble 14
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Meanings

noundiatryma (plural diatrymas)

plural diatrymas

  1. A big-beaked prehistoric bird in the genus Gastornis, larger than the ostrich, believed to have become extinct 15- to 25-million years ago due to a vast climate change.

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekδιατρήμα“canoe”
  2. Englishdiatryma

From taxonomic name †Diatryma, a former name for the genus, from Ancient Greek διατρήμα (diatrḗma, “canoe”).

More words from Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

diatryma. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/diatryma

MLA

“diatryma.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/diatryma. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “diatryma,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/diatryma.

Source: diatryma on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.