labyrinthodont

noun

lab·​y·​rin·​tho·​dont ˌla-bə-ˈrin(t)-thə-ˌdänt How to pronounce labyrinthodont (audio)
: any of a superorder (Labyrinthodontia) of extinct amphibians of the Late Paleozoic and Early Mesozoic typically having bodies resembling salamanders or crocodiles and considered to be the earliest tetrapod vertebrates
labyrinthodont adjective

Word History

Etymology

New Latin Labyrinthodontia, from Greek labyrinthos + odont-, odous tooth — more at tooth

First Known Use

circa 1841, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of labyrinthodont was circa 1841

Dictionary Entries Near labyrinthodont

labyrinthine tooth

labyrinthodont

Labyrinthodonta

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Labyrinthodont.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/labyrinthodont. Accessed 7 Dec. 2022.

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More from Merriam-Webster on labyrinthodont

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about labyrinthodont

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