A reptile characterized by having two temporal fenestrae (openings) on each side of the skull behind the eye socket. This group includes lizards, snakes, crocodiles, birds, and many extinct reptiles like dinosaurs.
From Greek 'di-' meaning two and 'apsid' from 'apsis' meaning arch or vault, referring to the skull openings. The term was coined in 1903 by paleontologist Henry Fairfield Osborn to classify reptiles based on skull structure.
Try Another Word