Ratite Definition

rătīt
adjective
Designating a former group (Ratitae) of large, flightless birds of various orders having a flat breastbone without the keel-like ridge of flying birds.
Webster's New World
noun
Any bird with such a breastbone, as the cassowary, ostrich, or kiwi.
Webster's New World
Synonyms:
  • flightless-bird
  • ratite bird
Antonyms:

Other Word Forms of Ratite

Noun

Singular:
ratite
Plural:
ratites

Origin of Ratite

  • From Latin ratītus marked with the figure of a raft (in reference to the lack of the keellike prominence) from ratis raft

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From Latin ratis (“raft") +"Ž -ite.

    From Wiktionary

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