flapling

English

Etymology

From flap +‎ -ling.

Noun

flapling (plural flaplings)

1. (paleontology, informal) A juvenile pterosaur.
   • 2022, Thomas Halliday, Otherlands, Penguin, published 2023, page 148:

     The flaplings, with short faces and only very little teeth, must seek out their own food, and restrict themselves to land, agilely snapping at insects until they are old enough to venture out to the fishing waters with their relatives.