Velociraptors

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A group of agile, carnivorous dinosaurs known for their small size and sharp claws, which lived during the late Cretaceous period and are often depicted as intelligent predators
2. These swift reptiles, characterized by their feathered bodies and keen hunting skills, roamed prehistoric landscapes and are popularly associated with ferocity in media
3. Species of small to medium-sized theropod dinosaurs that exhibited high levels of agility and speed, often used in popular culture as symbols of cunning hunters

Etymology: Velociraptors are a plural form of "velociraptor," which is a taxonomic genus name. The name was coined by scientists from Latin: "vēlōx" meaning "swift," combined with "raptor," meaning "thief" or "plunderer." Taken together, the name describes a swift thief, a fitting label for a predator of its kind. The genus name itself has a surprising twist in how the word spread. The dinosaur most people picture when they hear it is closer to a related animal called Deinonychus. In 1988, the palaeontologist Gregory S. Paul argued that Velociraptor and Deinonychus should be classified as the same genus. That idea was taken up in the book that led to the Jurassic Park films, and the film versions of the creatures adopted the name, so the popular image of "velociraptors" grew largely from a film-driven application of the term.

Synonyms: raptors