ptero 

A shorthand term for all pterosaurs (the group of winged flying archosaurs that is the sister clade of the dinosaurs), including not only pterodactyls but also all the other pterosaur species that ever existed on Earth.

I personally coined this term by analogy with how "dino" is used as a shorthand term for (non-avian) dinosaurs, and also to stop people from ever again calling pterosaurs in general "pterodactyls" even when they're not Pterodactylus antiquus (the only species that can unquestionably be called a pterodactyl).

Within the tetrapods, there have been exactly three clades that have all independently evolved the ability to fly: pteros, a bunch of prehistoric reptiles closely related to but district from dinosaurs; birds, a clade of feathery theropod dinosaurs that unlike all other dinos, uniquely survived the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event; and bats, a group of unique laurasiatherian placental mammals. The pteros were the first clade to evolve full flight, but they're also the only fully extinct flying vertebrate group.

ptero by ResearchToonGamer February 2, 2025

pterodactyl screech 

A phrase commonly used by the fandom side of the social media website tumblr to describe a reaction of an inhuman noise (that sounds like a pterodactyl screech) one has made after they see something that pleases them greatly and instantly excites them.

*A cute drawing of OTP shows up on dash*

Tumblr User: *pterodactyl screech*

pterodactyl screech by Carlyndra September 8, 2013

Petrocracy 

State that is backed by and exists for the purpose of petroleum.

Putin has turned Russia into a petrocracy

Petrocracy by sandraxine December 14, 2016

pterodactyl sex 

when a couple is in missionary position and the man puts the sheets over his arms and flaps his arms like a bird as he thrusts.

I couldn't take brad seriously when we had pterodactyl sex last night.

pterodactyl sex by ben dover4me May 13, 2014

Perocative 

When you’re a bit of an idiot and don’t know whether you mean “prerogative” or “provocative”....

That’s your perocative if you want to wear a dress that perocative!

Perocative by Skyehi November 15, 2018

Lady Petrol 

A name given to an alcoholic beverage such as cheap wine which helps gets a lady going on a night out.

The girls were getting on the lady petrol for the pre lash before hitting the town on a heavy night out...

Lady Petrol by lifeofriley August 15, 2010

petrocollapse 

Petrocollape: the collapse of the petroleum-based economy and infrastructure, caused by unbearably high oil prices and crippling shortage. Causes include the global peak in crude oil extraction ("peak oil"), a major and sudden geopolitical event in the Persian Gulf region, the unsustainable growth of the corporate economy and unhealthful consumerism. Context: there is no technological fix for fully replacing petroleum (oil and natural gas) with other fuels or processes because of the unique and multifacted aspects of petroleum which has been so cheap in cost and return on energy invested. Agriculture even more so that transportation is very petroleum intensive, a problem that cannot be solved for a huge, petroleum-dependent population. Alternative approaches such as permaculture and community economics have been suggested.

Petrocollapse has only just started to hit the planet, but Cuba already endured a kind of petrocollapse with the loss of Soviet oil after the break up of the Soviet Union. Cuba's special period in the early 1990s without much oil required a restructuring of society toward urban organic gardening and farming, much more bicycling, and decentralized solar energy. The film "The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil" by Community Solutions tells the history and shares what the Cuban people learned and how they benefited from the changes.

petrocollapse by a depaver October 8, 2009