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🦕 If the Anglo-Saxons had invented names for Dinosaurs

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Edited by Richard Walker, Monday 4 May 2026 at 13:55

Can you match each Old English name to the right Dinosaur?

Remember Thorn þ is a 'th' sound, as in 'thin'.

Snelþēof

Brontosaurus

Þæclixca

Triceratops

Þrihornanwlite

T-Rex

Þunorlixca

Stegosaurus

Tīrlixcacyning

Velociraptor

See Comment for information on the Od English versions.

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Richard Walker

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The names were generated by Google AI mode, which also provided this usweful Glossary.

Anwlite: Face or countenance (for -tops).

Cyning: King (used for the "Rex" part of T-Rex).

Draca: Dragon or serpent (used for a more epic, monstrous feel).

Horn: Horn (the word hasn't changed in 1,000 years!).

Lixca: Lizard (the literal translation).

Snel: Swift or quick (for Veloci-).

Tīr: Glory, honor, or power (used to capture the "Tyrant" or "Great" status of the T-Rex).

Þæc: Thatch or Roof (for Stego-, meaning covered/roofed).

Þēof: Thief (used for the "raptor" part of Velociraptor).

Þri: Three (for Tri-).

Þunor: Thunder (for Bronto-).