ptilo-

UK/(p)tɪləʊ/UK/(p)taɪləʊ/UK/(p)tʌɪləʊ/

prefix

down, feather; also, more loosely, downy, feathery, penniform, plumiform

“ptilogenesis, ptilolite, ptilopaedic”

OriginAncient Greek πτῐ́λον →
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Meanings

prefix
  1. down, feather; also, more loosely, downy, feathery, penniform, plumiform

    ptilogenesis, ptilolite, ptilopaedic

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekπτῐ́λον“feather”, “down”
  2. Englishptilo-

Representing the Ancient Greek πτῐ́λον (ptĭ́lon, “feather”, “down”). Compare the English -ptile, the French ptil-, and the New Latin ptilo-.

More words from Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

French ptil-
  • ptil-downy, feathery, penniform, plumiform
Latin ptilo-
  • ptilo-down, feather
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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