ratitae Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun used in former classifications to include all ratite bird orders
    superorder Ratitae.

WordNet

Ra*ti"tæ noun plural (Also<
  • Ratitae
  • Ratitæ
)
Etymology
NL., fr. L. ratis a raft; cf. L. ratitus marked with the figure of a raft.
Definitions
  1. (Zoöl.) An order of birds in which the wings are small, rudimentary, or absent, and the breastbone is destitute of a keel. The ostrich, emu, and apteryx are examples.

Webster 1913