protobird

P3R1O1T1O1B3I1R1D2

noun

Any of several extinct animals proposed as an evolutionary link between fossil reptiles and fossil birds; a proavian.

OriginEnglish bird ← Middle English brid ← Old English bridd →
Scrabble 14
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Meanings

nounprotobird (plural protobirds)

plural protobirds

  1. informalAny of several extinct animals proposed as an evolutionary link between fossil reptiles and fossil birds; a proavian.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*per-der.?
  2. Proto-Indo-European*pér
  3. Proto-Indo-European*pró
  4. Ancient Greekπρό (pró)
  5. Ancient Greekπρῶτος (prôtos)
  6. Ancient Greekπρωτο- (prōto-)
  7. Englishproto-
  8. Old Englishbridd
  9. Middle Englishbrid
  10. Englishbird
  11. Englishprotobird

From proto- + bird.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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