Main Entry:

dei·non·y·chus

Pronunciation:

\(ˌ)dī-ˈnä-ni-kəs\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

New Latin, from Greek deinos terrifying + -onychos -clawed (from onych-, onyx claw, nail) — more at dire, nail

Date:

1969

: any of a genus (Deinonychus) of small bipedal carnivorous theropod dinosaurs from the Cretaceous having a very large sharp claw on the second digit of both hind feet