‖ hylæosaurus Palæont.
(haɪliːəʊˈsɔːrəs)
Also hyˈlæosaur.
[mod.L. (Mantell, 1832), f. Gr. ὑλαῖος belonging to forests (f. ὕλη wood) + σαῦρος lizard.]
A gigantic fossil saurian, found in the Wealden formation of Tilgate forest, chiefly characterized by a dermal ridge of large bony spines.
| 1833 Sir C. Bell Hand (1834) 119 The Hylæosaurus..is estimated to have been about thirty feet in length. 1877 Le Conte Elem. Geol. ii. (1879) 434 The Hylæosaur was another huge reptile of the same [Mesozoic] period. |