prettygoodword: text: words are sexy (Default)
prettygoodword ([personal profile] prettygoodword) wrote2006-08-09 07:12 am

struthiform

struthiform - adj., shaped like an ostrich.


Those who know Greek will now scratch their heads -- "But struthis doesn't mean ostrich!" It turns out the scientific name for ostrich is Struthio camelus, meaning "sparrow camel." Which I can sorta see -- even if it does mean the root for a wee bird now means a big bird. Chosen for the day because I am assured that it's more interesting than gliriform, rodent-shaped.

---L.

[identity profile] lonita.livejournal.com 2006-08-09 02:50 pm (UTC)(link)
And there are so many things out there shaped like an ostrich, that someone felt we needed a whole word to encompass them. :>

[identity profile] prettygoodword.livejournal.com 2006-08-09 06:32 pm (UTC)(link)
Emus, moas, struthiosaurs ...

---L.

[identity profile] lonita.livejournal.com 2006-08-09 06:36 pm (UTC)(link)
Okay okay! :>

I saw a stuffed moa once... very odd looking critter.

[identity profile] prettygoodword.livejournal.com 2006-08-09 10:38 pm (UTC)(link)
As opposed to the ostriches of normalcy.

---L.

[identity profile] azhreia.livejournal.com 2006-08-09 02:51 pm (UTC)(link)
to me it would seem logical (by extension) that if struthiform means "ostrich shaped", clearly strewthiform would mean "emu shaped"

:-)

[identity profile] prettygoodword.livejournal.com 2006-08-09 06:27 pm (UTC)(link)
Hold still. I need to >WHAP< you with this salmon.

---L.

[identity profile] lonita.livejournal.com 2006-08-09 06:36 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh don't do that, she'll enjoy it.

She's one of my best friends, so I know. Try bananas.

[identity profile] prettygoodword.livejournal.com 2006-08-09 10:38 pm (UTC)(link)
But bananas don't whap very well!

---L.

[identity profile] lonita.livejournal.com 2006-08-09 10:39 pm (UTC)(link)
But they squish really nicely!